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Maximizing the Benefits of Fluid Analysis
The secret? The lab and customer must work together. Here's how to do it.
The most beneficial oil analysis programs result from a collaborative effort on the part of the lab and its customer. This means that roles and expectations are clearly defined and agreed on and each performs assigned responsibilities.
In a perfect world, the customer would (1.) have a comprehensive oil analysis program in place, (2.) follow sampling protocol to the letter, (3.) read the full report and (4.) follow through on the recommendations.
In a perfect world, the lab would help the customer (1.) design the oil analysis program, (2.) suggest a sampling protocol in line with budget and needs and (3.) produce timely, easy-to-understand reports.
When customers say they aren't seeing benefits from oil analysis programs, it's often because they aren't providing the lab with enough information and/or aren't following through on recommendations. Equipment that could have been saved fails, and customers don't make the connection. On the other hand, customers complain that labs recommend unnecessary tests, don't interpret results in a way that they can understand and don't provide enough guidance. A flawed fluid analysis program can be frustrating for the customer and the lab.
The analogy is often made between oil tests for equipment and blood tests for humans. It's a good analogy in many respects but not so great in others. For example, the degree of criticality for pieces of equipment varies, but nearly all humans would consider their bodies essential. Companies have to pay for oil testing themselves while most humans have health insurance. If equipment fails, it can be replaced. If a human body fails…
A better analogy is a professional sports team. From a pure business perspective, each member of the team is an investment, with some paid tens of millions a year and others considerably less. Each member's degree of importance to the success of the team varies and is based on such factors as past performance, current performance, age, the importance of the position and the existence of a reliable backup. Professional team members are in essence human machines that function in a system (the team).
The focus of team medical care is always on prevention and early intervention. This means continuously monitoring the physical condition of all members (with special attention to starters) identifying issues early and providing immediate follow-up care. The team medical staff accomplishes this through regular testing.
It's the same with a company's machinery. Routine fluid testing allows companies to catch minor problems in important equipment before they become major problems.
The goal of fluid analysis programs is to check the right equipment with the right tests at the right time and then follow through. When fluid analysis programs fail to live up to their expectations, the fault usually lies in one or more of five areas: overall strategy, sampling protocol, test selection, data processing and interpretation, and follow-through.
It is ultimately the customer's responsibility to design a fluid analysis program that meets operational objectives. But this is an area where testing labs can help. A good starting point is to set simple but specific objectives (expected benefits) that will frame the program. Examples include:
"This is where it all starts," explains STLE-member Walt Huysman, oil analysis business development manager for Trico Corp. in Pittsburgh. "There should be written SMART goals (see sidebar) that are visible for everyone to see. They must be measurable so you know if things are getting done."
The Criticality Index ranks a piece of equipment on how important it is to operations and thus how often and how extensively its fluids need to be tested. The index assigns one of three categories to each piece of equipment:
STLE-member Mark Minges, chief operating officer of POLARIS Laboratories, LLC, in Indianapolis, explains, "At POLARIS Laboratories, we like to have a complete equipment and component list before samples are even taken. Then we have the customer review the equipment database for accuracy and sign off that it is correct. This is critical for properly evaluating the data from samples. We then sit down with the customer and recommend a sampling frequency program for each sampled component based on their goals."
Having background information on the equipment and operating conditions enables labs to test and report on specific contaminants. Knowing the possible sources of contamination, such as leaks, streamlines correction action. STLE-member Evan Zabawski, senior reliability specialist for Fluid Life Corp. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, offers these examples:
A key aspect of strategy development that is often overlooked is identifying a set of follow-through procedures to implement in the event the lab report requires action. For example:
Once the strategy is in place and before initiating the fluid analysis program, the customer should record a benchmark or baseline for each piece of equipment. This baseline will include such information as overall reliability, past failures and the current oil condition. Much of this information will come from maintenance reports. Once the program is underway, these benchmarks become important for estimating the program's return on investment.
"Most programs I see have never been benchmarked," Huysman says. "This is a critical step if users want their program to improve—they need to know where they are first so they can plot a course for where they want to be."
Establishing sampling protocol is another area that is ultimately the customer's responsibility but where the lab can help. In addition to suggesting equipment, specific tests and test frequency, the lab can provide clear guidance on correct sample labeling such as the oil type, number of hours the oil has been used and the presence of additional oil that has been added since the last oil change.
Failing to choose the right equipment and not sampling with the best methods are two areas that set up fluid analysis programs for failure. Many customers only test the oil when a problem is obvious—sometimes without identifying a baseline in advance. By then it's often too late.
Once the most logical equipment and frequencies have been identified, the sample procedure itself is the primary consideration. There are two basic sample locations?the drain port or a dedicated sample valve. Although the drain port is the source of the vast majority of all fluid samples, it is most likely to produce a contaminated sample. Ideally samples should be collected in a dedicated sample valve that is free of possible contamination sources. The lab can help with sampling protocol.
"Improper sampling starts the whole process of misleading information," Huysman says. "The lab must assume the sample was taken properly, but the results are only as good as the quality of the sample. Users need to get training on sampling techniques and proper sampling locations."
Providing complete sample information requested by the lab is also the customer's responsibility. The lab will probably keep a history on all the equipment it has tested, but it is not a complete record of the equipment. For example, the lab will not have any information on the machine's history prior to the start of the testing program. This is why it's so important not only to keep a detailed history on each piece of equipment but to provide the necessary information on the fluid sample. This information should include anything unusual that has taken place since the last sample.
"A complete and up-to-date equipment list is a good starting point," Huysman says. "Equipment information, lubricant information, reservoir capacity and filtration information are all important to know, and this information should be provided to the lab and updated as needed."
No matter how proactive the lab, the customer will always know the equipment and the environment in which it operates better than the lab. But the lab has expertise in the latest, most cost-effective tests and techniques and their applications. Because of this, the customer will always make the final decision on tests and their frequency, but the lab is an indispensable source of advice.
This is an area where the lab can be extremely helpful. The customer should discuss objectives with the lab and then go through the equipment list to identify specific tests and frequencies. If there is a question about the necessity of a specific test, the customer should ask for clarification.
"Doing the amount of testing necessary to cover all possible issues is not cost effective," Minges says. "First of all, fluid testing will not cover all possible issues just as vibration analysis, thermography or ultrasonic leak testing cannot detect all possible issues. Ideally, the lab prescribes a testing regime to cover most possible issues and then uses trigger alarms to order additional testing based on what is found in the original results. It's a drill-down approach?if this tests high, order this test and so on. That way we can cover most possibilities. It is important for the user to understand that there are limitations to every laboratory testing method and it is in their best interests to ask the laboratory about these during the sales process."
Because of cost considerations, customers usually don't order tests frequently enough. Ways around this during tight financial times are narrowing the scope of the tests (testing only for essentials) or performing basic tests in-house.
"Not all labs issue reports with proper trending," Zabawski says. "This is to the detriment of the user. Furthermore, users do not always take it upon themselves to further manipulate the data they have received. Trending is significantly more important than the absolute values."
When it comes to the most critical machinery, it makes sense to supplement oil analysis with other condition monitoring technologies such as vibration analysis, thermography and ultrasound.
"I have been to many operations where fluid testing is done and the data is looked at by the lube guys. Vibration is being done and looked at by the reliability guys. The groups don't always seem to talk to each other," Minges says. "All condition monitoring data should be reviewed by the same people; otherwise something is going to get missed. All of these condition monitoring techniques complement each other. Looking at all of the data together tells a much more complete story."
Tests that should be examined in total include the following:
Vibration analysis. Oil analysis and vibration analysis complement each other almost perfectly. Vibration analysis monitors and controls balance, looseness and alignment. Oil analysis monitors and controls lubricant quality and contamination. Vibration analysis excels at precisely detecting impending failures in high-speed bearing systems.
Thermography. The premise behind thermography is that an increase in heat indicates failing components. This is especially true for electrical contacts and terminals. Thermography also detects issues that oil analysis can't, such as the level of deposit build-up in storage tanks and the condition of rollers, couplings and high-speed bearings.
Ultrasound. Ultrasound uses digital meters that measure high-frequency signals from bearings and display the result in decibels per microvolt. Trending values will point to potential bearing defects caused by contact conditions such as rubbing and friction. Ultrasound complements vibration analysis well.
Visual inspection conducted by a seasoned machine operator looking for such conditions as cracks, leaks and rust is surprisingly effective but not foolproof. Another in-house test is performance analysis, which involves comparing actual operating statistics with the manufacturer's original parameters. Newer test technologies include motor current analysis, stress wave analysis and embedded sensors that can detect wear debris and/or vibration.
Trico Corp. specializes in direct reading ferrography and analytical ferrography. Huysman explains, "Analytical ferrography is what I call the CSI of oil analysis (we wrote the book on these tests). Our TLM process (total lubrication management) is basically a cradle-to-grave approach to lubricant handling and management."
Once the samples have gone to the lab and the results are back, the customer needs to interpret the data and decide on a course of action. The lab will explain the actual statistics and what they mean, but it's the customer's job to weigh those results with other factors (such as running conditions) and follow through where necessary.
Ideally, the samples should be sent to the lab the same day the customer collects them. Waiting any longer compromises the integrity of the sample and also creates a delay in addressing any issues that the lab turns up. It's best to overnight or hand-deliver samples where possible.
"Samples should be sent to the lab as soon as they are taken," Huysman says. "Don't wait until the box is full?remember that the equipment continues to wear. If you have a problem, you need to know about it before the equipment fails."
Zabawski adds, "Logistics in getting the samples to the lab must be considered, whether the lab offers drop points for shipping or pre-addressed packaging with a reputable courier."
Many labs promise the results within 24 hours after they receive the sample, but customers should expect results for routine tests in no more than 48 hours. If they are frequently receiving results more than 48 hours after the lab receives the sample, customers should consider changing labs.
Minges points out that there are exceptions because some tests take longer to perform. "The lab has no control over shipping time, so for the lab the clock is ticking from the time the sample is received," he says. "For typical routine-type testing in most labs, the goal is 24-48 hours, ideally 24 hours. Our goal is to get 85% (of the results) to the customer in 24 hours and 98% within 48 hours. We do a lot of advanced testing on some samples, and some of this testing takes more than 48 hours, so 100% out in 48 hours is not realistic for some testing."
So what happens if the customer receives the results but doesn't know what they mean? Most labs flag problem areas on reports based on statistical limits and also offer training in report interpretation—a service customers should take advantage of. Look for a lab that is accessible for questions at least during normal working hours and preferably beyond. Customers should feel comfortable contacting the lab for clarification and recommendations.
If customers have done their homework and checked for ISO certifications, they should be comfortable with the reliability of the reports the lab generates. The Fluid Life report format includes a comparison of each parameter to a histogram of identical or similar make/model/oil type samples. The histogram is based on hundreds to thousands of other recent samples and drives statistically-derived alarm limits. In addition, Fluid Life trends the last nine samples, which provides a solid basis for ranking the parameters and overall report. Zabawski explains, "For example, your results may be high compared to other similar systems, but if the last bunch of results are the same, that may be normal for this component and does not warrant significant alarm. This format enhances our level of interpretation and makes it easier for the user to read."
While the lab can help with the first three areas, the responsibility for follow through rests directly with the customer. Customers who complain that they just aren't seeing the ROI in fluid analysis are often the ones that fail to take advantage of the early warning fluid analysis provides.
"Too many times I have seen users simply file away their results without really looking at them," Zabawski says. "Some users have trouble translating lab comments into action items, but mostly I see the planner or reliability engineer making a correct evaluation and then putting through a work order that a mechanic will not comply with because they do not believe in oil analysis."
Huysman and Minges agree.
"There are always two steps to resolving an equipment issue?fixing the current issue and then following up to determine what the root cause was," Huysman says. "If you fix the root cause, the problem should not return. Many times we get another sample and we can tell that nothing was done because the new sample is worse than the previous sample."
Minges says, "What is the point of trying to treat lung cancer if the patient continues to smoke? Too often users of fluid analysis get a report back that clearly tells the user to perform maintenance on a unit that has very high potential of failure and the user just files the report away because he/she either doesn't understand it or they don't believe it. Or Operations won't let them shut it down because it will lower production output. If this is the case, then why sample at all?"
"What typically happens in some of these cases is that failure to heed the recommendations results in machine failure and very high costs. Management reviews the fluid analysis data and makes personnel changes. Or managers act on the recommendations and have a major save, and then they will become believers and use the program effectively."
Huysman says, "My opinion has always been you get what you pay for (expecting to get top dollar results for testing but not wanting to pay for it) or not doing all the tests necessary in order to save money. Users should be considering oil analysis as an insurance policy to prevent downtime."
Sometimes companies initiate fluid analysis programs and abandon them soon after, saying they just don't see the return on investment. But often the fault is theirs. Following is a summation of ways to ensure that the oil analysis program more than pays for itself by prolonging the life of equipment, reducing downtime and preventing accidents:
Like other quality labs, POLARIS is serious about demonstrating ROI. Its Field Services Department's primary function is to help customer fluid analysis programs reach full potential. To that end, POLARIS conducts public training seminars that show people how to get more from their fluid analysis programs.
"If I was the CFO of their company, and it was suggested to spend thousands of dollars on fluid analysis, I would be asking, 'How much is this going to cost us and how much is this going to potentially save us as a company?'" Minges says. "Once they have an idea of what kind of ROI they would like to achieve, they can take this information to the lab, and if the potential savings significantly outweigh the costs then it is a no-brainer."
The customer wants to get the most out of the tests and so does the lab. They have a vested interest in ensuring that the fluid analysis program tells the customer exactly what they need to know in order to keep the facility performing at its peak.
Zabawski advises, "Set a goal for the oil analysis program. For example, extend drain intervals, extend component rebuild intervals, increase reliability or uptime, and then assess its success regularly. Any condition-based monitoring program must be viewed as a savings and not a cost. If it isn't saving you money, you're not doing it right."
Jean Van Rensselar heads her own communication/public relations firm, Smart PR Communications, in Naperville, Ill. You can reach her at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Not a day goes by that our favorite mess of starlet doesn't do at least a few monumentally stupid things that seem out of the realm of regular human behavior. So we've fancied ourselves a little quiz to see if ya'll can pick out today's real Britney Spears news from the fake. Give it go and check your answers under the jump!
1. According to a statement, Britney's lawyers fired her as a client yesterday because of:
a) "a mental breakdown."
b) "a breakdown of communication."
c) "her constant breakdancing."
d) "her dog London, who Ms. Spears permitted to urinate on her counsel's leather chairs."
2. Britney Spears skipped what very important event yesterday?
a) Her sister Jamie-Lynn's first mammogram.
b) Sean Preston's tanning appointment.
c) The opening of a new Starbucks on Robertson Boulevard.
d) Her deposition in her custody battle with K-Fed.
3. Britney and her new photographer "boyfriend" Adnan Ghalib spent 5 hours, from 2am – 7am, at the Parker Hotel in Palm Springs together allegedly doing what:
a) Drugs. Ambiguous, plentiful drugs.
b) Discussing the future Britney Spears photo-book he is creating.
c) Ordering and eating fifteen continental breakfasts off the room service menu.
d) All of the above.
Check out the answers under the jump!
1. b) "a breakdown of communication."
2. d) Her deposition in her custody battle with K-Fed.
3. b) Discussing the future Britney Spears photo-book he is creating.

subset: commoncrawl


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Posted at: 06/07/2013 10:15 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The game between the Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals on Friday night has been postponed by rain as Tropical Storm Andrea moves north along the East Coast.
Officials called the game Friday afternoon, about seven hours before the scheduled first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Sunday.
The Nationals were also rained out Thursday night, when they were scheduled to finish a series against the New York Mets.
(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Quotes & Info
|IACI > SEC Filings for IACI > Form 8-K on 2-Jul-2014
|All Recent SEC Filings
Other Events, Financial Statements and Exhibits
During the first quarter of 2014, IAC/InterActiveCorp (the "Company" or the "Registrant") realigned its reportable segments as follows:
• The Company created a new segment called The Match Group that includes Match, which was previously reported as its own separate segment, and DailyBurn and Tutor, which were previously in the Media and Other segments, respectively.
• The businesses within the Local segment (HomeAdvisor, Felix and, for periods prior to July 1, 2013, CityGrid Media) were moved to the eCommerce segment, formerly called the Other segment.
• There were no changes to the Search & Applications segment.
In addition, the Company introduced Adjusted EBITDA, a new non-GAAP financial measure, beginning with the first quarter of 2014. Going forward, the Company plans to regularly report Adjusted EBITDA and will no longer report Operating Income Before Amortization. We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure for analysts and investors as this measure allows a more meaningful comparison between our performance and that of our competitors. Moreover, our management uses this measure internally to evaluate the performance of our business as a whole and our individual business segments.
Lastly, during the first half of 2014 certain domestic subsidiaries of the Company were named as guarantors of our 4.875% Senior Notes due November 30, 2018 and 4.75% Senior Notes due December 15, 2022.
The following items of the 2013 Form 10-K are being updated retrospectively to
reflect the above-mentioned changes in the Company's reportable business
segments, new non-GAAP measure and changes in the Company's guarantors:
Exhibit No. Description 23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP 99.1 2013 Form 10-K: Part II - Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Part II - Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 101.INS XBRL Instance 101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema 101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation 101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition 101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels 101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation
By: /s/ Gregg Winiarski
Name: Gregg Winiarski
Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Date: July 2, 2014


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The story of Archie Kao, an Alexandria native and graduate of George Mason University (GMU), goes something like that, and then again, most of the story is unique and his alone.
Kao, who graduated from Thomas Edison High School in Alexandria, first worked as a waiter after moving from Northern Virginia to Los Angeles.
He began modeling, then turned to acting and now plays a recurring role on the CBS TV drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," one of today's most popular television shows.
Kao plays audiovisual technician Archie Johnson, who uses the science and art of forensics to make sense of clues discovered at crime scenes in Las Vegas.
"It's not as technical as what some of the other characters deal with," Kao said about his character's job.
"[Archie Johnson is] kind of a techie geek," he said. "He has a girlfriend. He drives a Harley, and he likes 'Star Trek.'"
Kao's odyssey to the CSI sound stage is a tale of a winding career path that often is the life of a new actor in Tinsel Town.
"I came to L.A. to go to grad school," said Kao, who earned a communications degree from GMU in 1992. "I didn't come out here to be an actor."
While using a relative's sofa as a bed and often eating pancake batter for sustenance, Kao got a job as a waiter in an L.A. restaurant.
There, he was discovered when a photographer asked him if he wanted to do some print work as a model. Kao's first job was posing for a catalog.
"I wasn't making any money [at the restaurant]. I guess I wasn't that good a waiter," Kao said.
After various modeling jobs for such corporate clients as Minolta, Doritos, Nike and Polaroid, Kao got the chance to play a superhero on TV.
In 2000, he donned blue Spandex in the role of the straight-laced Blue Power Ranger Kai Chen on the popular children's show "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers."
The actor said he remembers standing one time in front of a mirror while wearing Spandex tights, which were part of his Power Ranger costume. As he looked himself over, he thought about his career path to date.
"Sometimes you take a left turn instead of a right," Kao joked.
With a steady salary from the show and the life of a starving actor behind him, Kao went on an eating binge.
"They remade my outfit four times because I kept outgrowing it," he said.
A valuable lesson learned from his work on the series, he said, was not to take himself too seriously.
"After Power Rangers, I bounced around a little bit," Kao said.
When the series concluded, the young actor landed parts on the ABC TV dramas "Once and Again" and "The Player"; "Fire Co. 132" on Fox TV; and "The Wayans Brothers" on the WB network.
Then CSI came along.
"They were only offering me one episode of the show ... [so] I went in to do the episode," he said.
To Kao's surprise and delight, CSI's executive producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, told Kao's agent that he saw the dailies from the episode and wanted Kao to play a recurring character on the show.
"I sat in stunned silence for a while ... that he was in my corner," Kao said about Bruckheimer. "He's the biggest producer of all time."
Having worked on CSI since 2001, Kao said the show has afforded him more than mere experience.
"It's given me some measure of confidence," he said. "It legitimizes your efforts."
Maybe just as rewarding was the time Kao spent as a university student and campus resident in Fairfax.
"I loved GMU. I feel really lucky to have been there. For me, it was such a precious experience," said Kao, who was recently featured in "Broadside," GMU's student newspaper.
Having served as both vice president and president of student government at GMU, Kao had early ambitions of being a lawyer or presidential speech writer and interned for a time in a congressional office on Capitol Hill.
"It didn't take me long to figure out it was something I didn't want to do," Kao said. "I wasn't excited about getting up in the morning and going to work."
At GMU, Kao was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, which he called "a very rewarding experience."
"They were really behind me running for student government," he said. "[But,] I think in college, I majored in my social life before anything else."
GMU is sort of a family university for Kao. Both his sistersSabrina Tillman, who is a magazine editor in Chicago, and Sarah Tillman, a banker in Washington, D.C.--are GMU graduates.
Although Kao said he still gets nervous at auditions and during tapings, his family, including mother Irene, and his experiences at GMU, he said, have contributed to what he calls his own secure sense of self.
"You have to have a pretty secure sense of yourself to be able to come out [to Hollywood] and do this," Kao said.
In addition to his TV credits, Kao has appeared in the movies "Local Boys" and "My Daughter's Tears," both released in 2002.
Kao was also set to start filming an 18th-century epic titled "The Nomad," but production has been halted due to political circumstances in the Central Asian country chosen as a locale for shooting.
Currently, Kao can be seen in a national TV commercial for electronics store giant Best Buy, in which he plays a store employee assisting a customer.


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Gainesville High School running back Tony James rushes for 203 yards and a TD to lead GHS to its second straight district title.
ESPN 850 WRUF – Gainesville, Florida
VIDEO: Gainesville High School Defeats Citrus 38-16
By Chris Kirschner on October 26th, 2013
Short URL: http://wuft.it/1al8TrF
This entry was posted in High School Sports, Video and tagged Gainesville High School, Tony James. Bookmark the permalink.


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The Lighthouse Center for Education Publications List
To order any of these publications, please download an order form in PDF format or Text-only format
Available publications:
The Lighthouse Clinician's Guide to Low Vision Practice
Price: $39.95 plus shipping
Effective Color Contrast
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Vision Simulator - Overall Blur
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We accept payment by check and credit card.
Please make checks payable to: Lighthouse International.
Please fill out an order form in PDF format or Text-only format and mail it with full payment to:
Lighthouse International
Attention: Center for Education
111 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1202
You can fax your order to us at (212) 821-9705.
Please allow two to three weeks for delivery. Remember to include shipping and handling fees.
If you have any questions about ordering, email to firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Here is a very unique and special 1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Corporate Promotion car. It has been fully frame off restored and detailed back... More
1963 Corvair Monza convertible,a solid car,with decent paint and serviceable original interior.The pancake six runs great,mated to the factory Powerglide.Drive and enjoy it,today.... More
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text:
Help with setting default programs
Hi all,
I have two versions of the same program running on my mac mini. I use one of these versions much more frequently than the other one. However, the one that I use less frequently is set as my default program so when I click to open saved files, the version of the program that i do not wish to open automatically opens. To counteract this, I have to right click on the file and choose 'open with' and then select the version of the program i use more frequently. Does anyone know how to change default settings for programs so that i don't have to go through this tedious process everytime!
Thanks, i hope you understood my question.
single click a document you want to open with the more used app. apple+i to get info. Choose Open With, browse for the new app if it's not there, and hit 'change all'.
All done!
Thanks for that dtownley1. It works well. Is there anyway that I can apply this to all my files without having to individually go through each one and do what you said above?
1 Attachment(s)
Welcome to Mac-Forums, JASOX.
You click on the button Change All... just below the drop-down menu in the Get Info box. See the attached screen shot below.
What is the app?
You have had your Mini for how long?
|All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:49 PM.
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Discontinued Product
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Parenthood Alert! Michaela Conlin Talks Brennan, Angela, and Babies
Uh-oh! Executive producer Hart Hanson might be shouting from the rooftops that Bones is still a crime drama, but Michaela Conlin (Angela) is taking a swipe at his credibility!
Michael Ausiello at TV Line has the scoop: Now that Brennan (Emily Deschanel) and Angela share the distinction of motherhood, they'll have plenty to discuss beyond putrefied remains. "There's [sic] been a lot of scenes with the two of them talking about strollers and baby gear," Conlin reveals. "[T]hey're talking about hormones, sleep patterns and names." Hart Hanson, call your office!
No word on Bones Jr. yet, but Conlin makes it clear that we'll be seeing plenty of Hodgela's Baby Staccato: "I like that we're seeing the baby a bit[.] It's been fun for me to have a real, live child in my arms after so much talk about it." We can see it now: "Don't touch the skull, Michael! I'm reconstructing!"
Source: TV Line
Need your daily dose of Bones? "Like" us on Facebook!


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Abstract available in
Claims available in
Description (OCR text may contain errors)
Oct. 5, 1965 E. HOOGSTOEL DISPLAYS Filed May 18, 1964 I. 2 [m l y .oo ofwvooo 000 0 000 oflo Wm. ooo Jm oo O0 .0 O0 O0 00 000 O0 0000 00 00000 //OOOO 000, 0000 000 omo 000. 3M0 d r m own 000 O|0.00 000 0000 w 0 /000000 0 o myfl om ooo 9.0 2 000 00000 1 1 FIG.|
INVENTOR LEON E.HOOGSTOEL I BY Mffi FlG.4
ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,209,919 DISPLAYS Leon E. Hoogstoel, 1954 Village Road, Schenectady 9, N.Y. Filed May 18, 1964, Ser. No. 368,132 2 Claims. (Cl. 211-90) The present invention relates generally to a means for displaying or storing small articles and more particularly to such a means having particular utility for the storage of small tools and the like.
In recent years the advent of so-called perforated boards have given rise to their wide-spread use as display boards and tool storage boards. A variety of different types of hangers are available for insertion in the holes of the perforated board to suspend various items therefrom for display or storage purposes. These systems have generally depended on a vertical perforated board and have left much to be desired as to ease of useparticularly in re-hanging tools or the like when they were to be replaced on the board.
The present invention provides an improvement in display and storage methods using perforated boards as the support media and has as its principal object the overcoming of the above-mentioned defects of prior art methods.
Another object of the invention is the provision of storage means which can rapidly and easily be rearranged as desired to store items of varying dimensions.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a storage means which permits ready availability and ease of replacement of items stored, regardless of their configuration.
Additional objects, if not specifically set forth herein will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention:
In the drawings:
FIGURE 1 is a front view of a display panel made in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side view of the panel of FIGURE 1 taken on section 22.
FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of one of the spacers which is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified spacer element.
Generally, the present invention comprises a means for displaying tools or the like wherein a sheet of relatively rigid perforated board is inclined at an angle to the vertical of between 15 and 45 and wherein peg-mounted spacers of varying lengths are provided to compartmentalize the board as desired.
More specifically and referring now to the drawings, it will be seen from FIGURES 1 and 2 that the perforated board having a plurality of holes or perforations 11 therein is inclined at a substantial angle A to the vertical. A retainer strip 12 is preferably attached permanently to the base of board 10 as shown, extending out from said board 10 at an angle of 90. If desired, this strip 12 may be replaced by a movable spacer similar to the spacers 13 shown in the drawings. These spacers 13 are arranged at any point on the board, either vertically or horizontally or at an angle as the storage requirements may require. The spacers 13 have pins or pegs 14 affixed to the base of the strip 15 forming the body of spacer 13, said pegs being of a size to friction fit the holes or perforations 11 in board 10. As shown in the drawings, these 3,209,919 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 spacers are being used to hold tools of varying size and shape. Obviously many other articles may be similarly stored or displayed. FIGURE 3 illustrates the type of spacer 13 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 in more detail. Many variations of this spacer may be made as desired. Obviously the length of the spacer can be varied as desired and instead of fixed pegs 14 as shown in FIGURE 3, the modification of FIGURE 4 may be used wherein pegs 14' have a serrated block 16 affixed to the top thereof of a size to snugly fit a serrated recess 17 extending the full length of strip 15' of the modified spacer 13'. This permits location of as many pins as desired at any point desired on the spacer 13'.
Preferably the spacers used as retaining elements in this invention are moulded plastic and are made as continuous or at least longer than their expected use length so that sections may be cut from the moulded strip of the length desired for use. These spacers permit storing of tools on edge, thus effecting maximum use of the available storage space.
In practice, a series of these boards such as 10 in FIG- URE 1 are usually suspended one partially above the next in a cascade pattern to provide a plurality of storage areas. In such instances the value of these boards as storage units becomes even more apparent since tools or other objects may be readily removed without any danger of interfering with tools above, below or to the sides of the selected one.
The angle of inclination of the board is critical in that if less than a 15 angle is used the object stored on the board may tend to fall forward and free of the board while if an angle of greater than 45 to the vertical is used, the space utilization becomes inefficient and the ability of the units to be stacked or cascaded one above the other is impaired.
Obviously, many variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein so that only such limitations should be imposed as are contained in the appended claims.
I claim:
1. In :a storage and display device having a perforated relatively rigid supporting member and a plurality of elongated strip members each having at least two pegs fitting the perforations in said rigid member, the improvement which comprises providing continuous peg holding means along one edge of said elongated strip member and mating means on said pegs selectively fitting into and engaging with said peg holding means at any position along the length of said strip member.
2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said peg holding means and said mating means on said pegs have corresponding and complementary serrations.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,698,467 1/29 Ashkenas 4631 X 2,100,421 11/37 Wupper.
2,504,765 4/ 50 Palmenberg 3l2l40.3 X 2,855,258 10/58 Moncier 312-1403 2,945,732 7/60 Edmonson 312-140.3 3,027,013 3/62 Tiaz 21 1--90 X 3,118,250 1/64 Harvey 211- X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.
Patent Citations
Referenced by
Original Image


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Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more
Clolar® (clofarabine) injection contains clofarabine, a purine nucleoside anti-metabolite. Clolar® (1 mg/mL) is supplied in a 20 mL, single-use vial. The 20 mL vial contains 20 mg clofarabine formulated in 20 mL unbuffered normal saline (comprised of Water for Injection, USP, and Sodium Chloride USP). The pH range of the solution is 4.5 to 7.5. The solution is sterile, clear and practically colorless, and free from foreign matter.
Clolar® is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 to 21 years old with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia after at least two prior regimens. This use is based on the induction of complete responses. Randomized trials demonstrating increased survival or other clinical benefit have not been conducted.
Clofarabine +/- fludarabine with once daily i.v. busulfan as pretransplant conditioning therapy for advanced myeloid leukemia and MDS. [2011.06]Although a combination of i.v...
A randomized study of clofarabine versus clofarabine plus low-dose cytarabine as front-line therapy for patients aged 60 years and older with acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. [2008.09.01]We previously reported the feasibility of clofarabine and cytarabine combinations in AML. Questions remain as to (1) the therapeutic advantage of this combination and (2) the role of lower doses of clofarabine and cytarabine in older patients... This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as no.
Clofarabine doubles the response rate in older patients with acute myeloid
leukemia but does not improve survival. [2013]Better treatment is required for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
not considered fit for intensive chemotherapy. We report a randomized comparison
of low-dose Ara-C (LDAC) vs the novel nucleoside, clofarabine, in untreated older
patients with AML and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Phase I pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib in combination with clofarabine and cytarabine in pediatric relapsed/refractory leukemia. [2011.08.20]PURPOSE: To assess the toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of multikinase inhibitor sorafenib in combination with clofarabine and cytarabine in children with relapsed/refractory leukemia... CONCLUSION: Sorafenib in combination with clofarabine and cytarabine is tolerable and shows activity in relapsed/refractory pediatric AML.
Early UK experience in the use of clofarabine in the treatment of relapsed and refractory paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. [2011.08]Clofarabine is a second-generation purine nucleoside analogue, which has shown promising activity in relapsed and refractory paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)... Responses were seen in both B and T cell disease and in patients with adverse cytogenetics.
Clofarabine vs Clofarabine in Plus With Low-Dose Ara-C in Previously Untreated Patients With AML and High-Risk MDS. [Completed]
Clofarabine is a chemotherapy drug that is designed to interfere with the growth and
development of cancer cells. Ara-C is a chemotherapy drug which is approved for the treatment
of AML and MDS. Although there is experience with the combination of both drugs, there have
not been any phase 1 trials that explored the particular doses and schedule of clofarabine
plus ara-C that a patient may receive.
PK Study of Oral and IV Clofarabine in High Risk Myelodysplasia+Acute Leukemias [Recruiting]
This is a non-blinded, non-randomized pharmacokinetic study to determine the oral
bioavailability of clofarabine, and the effect of cimetidine on clofarabine pharmacokinetics
in patients with poor-risk acute leukemias and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Clofarabine, Etoposide, and Mitoxantrone for Relapsed and Refractory Acute Leukemias [Recruiting]
The purpose of this study is to establish toxicity and a maximum tolerated dose recommended
phase 2 dose of Clofarabine in combination with Etoposide and Mitoxantrone for therapy of
relapsed or refractory acute leukemias. The investigators will observe responses with these
therapy agents and assess the impact of Clofarabine interacting with Etoposide in induction
of DNA strand breaks.
Low-dose Oral Clofarabine for the Treatment of IPSS INT-1, INT-2 or HIGH Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia [Recruiting]
Study and Dose Rationale The safety profile of clofarabine appears acceptable within the
target populations studied to date in the clinical studies summarized in Section 2. 3.
clofarabine has demonstrated anti-cancer activity through inhibition of DNA synthesis and
repair, induction of apoptosis, and possibly through other mechanisms. The effect of
clofarabine on DNA methylation has not been determined. Numerous responses have been
observed after treatment with clofarabine in heavily pre-treated relapsed/refractory
patients with ALL or AML.
Recently 2 small studies were conducted at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center looking at the
use of clofarabine in the treatment of MDS. 31 The first study randomized patients in a
Bayesian fashion to 15 vs. 30 mg/m2 given IV daily for 5 days every 4 to 8 weeks. In the 15
mg/m2 arm 3 of 7 patients had a complete remission according to the International Working
Group (IWG)32 criteria for response. In the 30 mg/m2 arm, 2 of 6 patients had a complete
remission while 1 patient had hematologic improvement according to IWG criteria. In the
second study, patients were treated with oral clofarabine at a dose of 40 mg/m2 daily for 5
days every 4 to 8 weeks. Two of 7 patients had hematologic improvement according to IWG
criteria. The main toxicities in both trials were prolonged myelosuppression and liver
function abnormalities.
Preclinical animal models have shown increased clofarabine activity against multiple
different tumors with repetitive daily dosing for prolonged periods of time. 33 The use of an
oral therapy is advantageous for the treatment of a chronic malignancy such as MDS.
Furthermore, based on the pre-clinical data mentioned above daily repetitive dosing over a
protracted period may provide increased efficacy. Since most MDS patients are elderly and
may not tolerate aggressive therapy, a schedule of administration of low dose oral
clofarabine over a protracted period may provide the advantage of increased efficacy without
severe toxicity. The safety of a protracted daily dosage of oral clofarabine in humans has
not been determined. The dosing scheme for this study will therefore include a dose
escalating phase I component followed by a phase II component. The starting dose will be 5
mg (fixed dose) orally daily for 10 days. This dose will be escalated in cohorts of 3
patients as tolerated up to a maximal dose of 15 mg (fixed dose) orally for 10 consecutive
days. Note that at the latter dose a patient will receive a total of 150 mg of clofarabine
per cycle, which far lower than the MD Anderson study of oral clofarabine in MDS whereby
patients received 200 mg/m2 per cycle.
Study Overview The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy and toxicity of
Clofarabine administered orally at a low daily dose for the treatment of myelodysplastic
Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant With Clofarabine, Ara-C and TBI for AML and ALL [Recruiting]
Hypothesis: Myeloablative conditioning using a dose escalation of clofarabine in combination
with cytarabine (ARA-C) and total body irradiation (TBI) will lead to improved survival for
previously untransplanted children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
and acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL)followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Pyrexia (16),
Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia (16),
Sepsis (15),
Febrile Neutropenia (14),
Neutropenia (12),
Pleural Effusion (9),
Renal Failure Acute (9),
Death (8),
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (8),
Renal Failure (8), more >>
All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2015


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Weekly news quiz: Jay Z, Bush
How much do you know about what has been going on in Washington this past week? Take POLITICO's weekly news quiz to find out.
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A. Rep. Trey Radel (R-Fla.)
B. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.)
C. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.)
D. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)(Photo: AP Photo)
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Video:Overview of Adobe Illustratorwith Andrew Hyland
Adobe Illustrator is full of simple and powerful tools to help you create any type of graphic for your next project. Get an overview of Abode Illustrator in this how-to video from About.com.See Transcript
Transcript:Overview of Adobe Illustrator
Hi, this is Andrew Hyland for About.com and this is an overview of Adobe Illustrator.
What is Adobe Illustrator?
Illustrator is a simple yet powerful application for any type of person no matter how skilled you might be. Illustrator is mainly used to create vector graphics that can be use for many different types of projects.
Vector graphics can be scaled without losing any detail or quality. No matter if you need a graphic to go on the side of an airplane or for a small business card creating vector graphics in illustrator allows you to do both.
Vector graphics are always editable which means that you can change the color, size, and dimensions of it without losing any of its quality, clarity, or detail.
Making Graphics in Adobe Illustrator
And illustrator you can open a many different types of files. You can open up the PDF, but EPS, a JPEG, and use any of those graphics for any platforms or projects are working on.
When making graphics in illustrator you can create for any type of platform. The matter if you're creating to have a illustration on a mobile phone or on a website viewed on the computer.
Illustrator has all the basic drawing tools that you would need. It allows artists create simple and complex art that is beautiful as well as functional. Does your comes with tools like a pen, I paint brush, shape tools, and anything you needed to create any sort of objects or graphics.
You truley have unlimited customizing options that you can easily reference back to with one click of a mouse. You can create anything that your heart desires.
Thanks for watching, for more visit us on the web at About.com


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In Memoriam: Wilhelm Kross
Categories: interviews
I was really sorry to read in PMI Today that Wilhelm Kross had passed away. He was kind enough to let me interview him only last year and I was impressed by the depth of his knowledge. His desire to improve things in project management came through really strongly and he was an active member of PMI as well.
He was a well-known and well-respected figure in project management and I know he'll be deeply missed.
You can read my interviews about risk management with him here and here.
10 Expert Tips for Project Budgets
Categories: interviews, video
Ask the Experts: Jason Westland on budget management processes
Categories: budget, interviews
Last time I asked Jason Westland, CEO of ProjectManager.com, about his tips for preparing a comprehensive project budget. Today, our interview continues with his advice about budget management processes.
Jason, one of the hardest budget processes to get right is contingency funding. How should project managers make it work?
You do need to add in contingency, especially if you haven't done this type of project before or it is particularly risky. But most companies don't have a process for calculating contingency or even accessing it to spend.
It's hard to calculate how much contingency to add to your budget, because it's rare that there is another similar project that you can use as a guideline. Start off by working out how risky your project is going to be. Projects with a high level of risk require more contingency funding. Having said that, some parts of the project may be riskier than others, so consider whether you add contingency to the overall budget pot or to particular tasks or phases. You could, of course, do both, if you are particularly risk adverse.
So if you don't know where to start, what is a good figure?
That's hard to answer! But my advice would be – if you really don't know where to start – add 10% of your overall project budget as contingency. Although it is better to work it out as scientifically as you can, as you will get challenged on that figure if your sponsor is doing a good job. You should be able to explain, rather than just saying that you made it up!
Talking to your sponsor about the level of financial risk that they are prepared to accept is another way to manage this. If you explain that contingency funding is there to offset unforeseen risks, they may allow you to have more, because they are risk averse and want to be sure that those kind of situations are covered. Having said that, this conversation could result in you getting less funding if they aren't worried about riskiness.
What about spending the money?
Yes, you absolutely need to know how to spend it! Both for your contingency fund and your main budget, and they will probably have two different processes.
For your project budget, your Finance team will probably be able to tell you what to do about raising purchase orders, receiving goods, authorising invoices and keeping track of expenditure. While it might be quite bureaucratic, it is normally pretty easy. Get someone in the right team to tell you what your local process is and where to charge expenses to, as I have noticed that they differ widely between companies, and sometimes even within the same company.
And for contingency funds?
Spending the contingency fund normally requires approval from the project sponsor. The best way to manage this is to find out how you can access the fund before you need to use it. The last thing you want to be doing when something goes wrong and you have to sort out a risk mitigation plan at short notice is to be trawling the intranet looking for some obscure policy or trying to schedule time with your sponsor's PA for them to explain it to you.
Once they have approved spending the funds, it's normally a similar process to spending 'ordinary' money, but it might be tracked separately.
Thanks, Jason!
About my interviewee
Jason Westland is CEO of ProjectManager.com, a software firm, and author of The Project Management Life Cycle.
Ask the Experts: Budget tips from Jason Westland
Categories: budget, interviews
In this instalment of my occasional series interviewing project management experts, I spoke to Jason Westland (pictured), CEO of ProjectManager.com to get his advice on preparing good project budgets.
Jason, it seems like a very basic question, but tell us why it's important to have a good budget prepared for your project.
A clear budget makes it possible to manage your project – without it you can't even start to get things done. As a result, working out how much the project will cost should be one of your first tasks.
So, talking to your sponsor is a must?
Yes. It's important for project managers to be able to have professional conversations about money, as you can't afford to be shy about asking questions about hard cash.
Project sponsors sometimes already have an idea of what the budget should be, but you should do your own sums as well, if only to give yourself confidence that the sponsor has a realistic view of how much they will be spending over the lifecycle of the project. That will help you manage their expectations.
The project manager and the sponsor, then, work together on the budget. Who else gets involved?
You can't prepare a budget by yourself. Think about who has the answers to some of your more complicated questions about costs, like how much the consultancy is going to be. Get your subject matter experts involved.
You can use your work breakdown structure or task list and get your team together to try to cost each element. Essentially, you should involve whomever you need in order to get realistic estimates.
You talked about consultancy costs. What other costs should you consider in your budget?
Well, you've talked about this yourself: there are two types of costs:
Yes, I remember writing about those.
To summarise, deliverable costs are related to producing your final deliverable or product, like hardware, software, licences and so on. Project management costs relate to temporary fees incurred from working on the project itself, like having to hire a separate office space, or a digger to lay cables, or a painter to decorate your new office.
There's another type of cost isn't there? The cost of shutting things down.
Yes, people often forget to include decommissioning fees. As projects involve change, things are different when the change has happened. And normally, the old way of working is left behind. The danger is that if you don't take out the old way of doing things, staff members will continue to use that and your new implementation will be wasted. You can't achieve the benefits of the change if they still insist on working in the old ways!
One way round this is to budget for decommissioning what was there before. That way people have to use the new deliverables. This could involve things like decommissioning old software, closing down user accounts, deleting training material from the intranet and so on. As well as it being a professional and tidy way to end the project, it stops people from slipping back into doing things the old way.
Thanks, Jason.
Next time I ask Jason about contingency and budget management processes.
About my interviewee
Jason Westland is CEO of ProjectManager.com, a software firm, and author of The Project Management Life Cycle.
Ask the Experts: Landing a new job with Dr Andrew Makar
Categories: interviews, recruitment
Today I talk to Dr Andrew Makar, IT program manager and author of Project Management Interview Questions Made Easy, about getting a new job.
Why is preparing for a new job more than just about practising responses to interview questions?
Preparing to find the next opportunity requires a lot more preparation than futility trying to memorize an exhaustive list of project management interview questions. The majority of the "interview tip" websites seem to think providing over 50 interview questions is a useful resource a candidate can apply in an interview setting.
It isn't realistic to memorize questions that may never be asked. This is why finding new opportunities and preparing for upcoming interviews is a reflective one much like a project management lessons learned session or retrospective.
I advocate thinking about past scenarios rather than memorizing questions. Reviewing your resume, reflecting on the lessons learned from those past projects and positions provides a much better background than rehearsing the perfect answer to a question that may never be asked.
You talk about a career contact matrix in your book. What is that?
The career contact matrix is a tool I've used to help me identify opportunities, leads, and follow up on active conversations for the next career opportunity. It's a simple matrix that can track active opportunities and identify contacts for professional networking and follow up over a three- to six-month time period.
I developed a career contact matrix using a variety of formats including spreadsheets and mind maps. The career contact matrix consists of 9 simple columns including:
The matrix is managed like a project manager's issue log where opportunities turn into qualified leads and other opportunities don't meet your need or interest. By keeping in touch with your contacts, new opportunities can occur frequently and a timely phone call can open up an entirely new job opportunity. Another key benefit of an updated matrix is it becomes your emergency unemployment rescue kit. There is a template for the matrix in my book, Project Management Interview Questions Made Easy.
If you do find yourself unemployed, employers often use phone interviews as a way of cutting down the number of candidates they invite in to the office. What's the biggest difference between a phone interview and a face to face interview?
Phone interviews can be difficult because of the lack of subtext. You only have the benefit of the interviewer's tone rather than seeing non-verbal communication signals. Most phone interviews tend to be screening interviews when there recruiter is vetting your profile for both skills and salary range. It is difficult to develop rapport with one phone call. The face to face interview is much better because you can look a person in the eye and determine if the opportunity is the right fit.
Remember, you are evaluating them just as they are evaluating you.
That's a good tip. Do you have any others?
For the job seeker, developing your personal network and promoting your personal brand is a key factor to creating a career safety net. I use the career contact matrix to maintain an action plan for professional networking and building better relationships. I always dislike receiving an email from someone seeking a job when I haven't spoken to them in a year. By developing better relationships and "checking in" from time to time, your job search becomes easier as opportunities pop.
My past 3 jobs have all come from a professional network instead of a job posting system. As project managers, we can spend over 40 hours a week delivering projects. Take at least one hour a week to focus on your career including networking, opportunity prospecting and directing your own career.
Is the interview the best time to ask questions about salary and benefits? If not, when should you ask about these?
The interview is the best time to sell yourself. The hiring decision is usually the interviewer's decision. The salary and associated benefits is an HR decision. Focus on positioning yourself as the desired candidate and obtain the hire decision. Once HR makes an offer, you can negotiate the salary and benefits.
In my experience, the initial phone screen or the job description will help identify the position title. You can usually find out about benefits and salary ranges incomparable positions from others in your professional network or using tools like salary.monster.com or glassdoor.com
What happens if the interview includes other things like tests or a presentation? How can people prepare for those?
I've asked candidates to demonstrate their skills in an interview by providing situational questions or even asking candidates to draw a small data model. In a project management interview, you want to provide specific actions taken using the processes, tools and techniques to manage a project. If you indicate on your resume that earned value management is a skill, be prepared to share how you'd apply earned value on a project or better yet how you would do it in Microsoft Project. Reflecting on your past job scenarios, providing real world examples with the techniques to support your responses will help you pass any test or presentation.
About Andrew Makar
Dr. Andrew Makar is an IT program manager and is the author of How To Use Microsoft Project and several Microsoft Project tutorials. For more project management advice visit http://www.tacticalprojectmanagement.com.


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A 28-year-old Goose Creek man faces several charges in connection with a kidnapping incident that reportedly happened on Aviation Avenue in North Charleston last week.
North Charleston police on Tuesday arrested Chavias Jenkins on charges of carjacking, armed robbery, kidnapping and possession of a firearm during a violent crime. He is being held at the Charleston County jail.
Shortly before 2 p.m. Friday, officers responded to the area of Twitty Street in reference to a woman reporting she had been kidnapped.
The 19-year-old victim told police she answered an ad on Craigslist to purchase a cell phone from a woman. The agreed-upon place to meet was the Waffle House on Aviation Avenue.
According to the victim, she was approached by a man with a gun who forced her into the vehicle's driver seat and told her to "slide over." He then drove her car towards the Russeldale neighborhood, police said.
The woman was told to get out of the vehicle near Twitty Street and the suspect fled the area with her cell phone and $370 in cash, police said. She was able to flee to a nearby house and use a cell phone to call police, according to a police report.
A short time later her vehicle was located outside of an apartment complex on Kerry Street. The woman was not injured, according to police.
Investigators arrested Jenkins at his mother's home on Amy Drive in Goose Creek, police said. Authorities did not immediately say how they tied Jenkins to the crime.
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Arizona restaurants giving out free school supplies
PHOENIX -- A couple of places known for serving food will be serving up free school supplies in Arizona on Saturday.
Lolo's Chicken and Waffles and McDonald's each will host back-to-drive drives in the morning from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
FREE School Supplies, Breakfast, Drinks for all students K-8 while supplies last TOMORROW 6a-9a at our #PHX location http://t.co/yBJ2VYlXcZ— Lo-Lo's C & W (@loloschicken) July 25, 2014
Lolo's, a local favorite, will hand out backpacks (about 2,000) supplies, breakfast and drinks for students in kindergarten through eighth grade at its Phoenix location at 1220 S. Central Ave., near Buckeye Road.
At McDonald's in metro Phoenix and northern Arizona, the first 100 kids at each of the 305 sites will be given a backpack starting at 8 a.m. Those kids will also get free yogurt.
The fast-food chain expects to hand out 25,000 backpacks. Students must be accompanied by a parent.


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Jack White ripped through his new single "Love Interruption" on Saturday Night Live last night, and it was one of the show's highlights.
And not just because his new band is foxier than the Raconteurs…
The slow-driving song is all about the search for powerful kind fo love—the kind of love that turns friends to enemies, sticks a knife in you and even, ulp, dispatches your mom to the great beyond.
And we're guessing he thinks that's a good thing, right?
OK, even if you prefer your love in a slightly less demonstrative fashion, White's new tune suggests his new music is going to be a blast.
What did you think of Jack White's new music?
PHOTOS: Remembering the Monkees' Davy Jones


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New Time!
Chiles & Chocolate
Now - November 9, 2014
NEW TIME! 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Spicy decadence awaits you this fall at the Desert Botanical Garden! Enjoy the sweet life while spending an afternoon—or a weekend—sampling your way through the outdoor beauty of one of Phoenix's natural gems. Delight your taste buds with indulgent gourmet chocolates, zesty salsas and other unique Southwestern treats. All products are available for purchase from local vendors, and the sweet sounds of DJ Miguel Ivery will definitely keep this weekend sizzlin'!
Entrance to the Festival


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Looking For Aberdeen Oil Jobs?
If you are looking for work in the oil industry in Aberdeen, then you have come to the right place. Although I don't list any real, live oil jobs on this website, I have links to the very best Aberdeen recruitment agencies who can find you the perfect position both on-shore and offshore in a variety of locations around the world.
If you are a forward thinking recruitment agency who provide personnel to fill Aberdeen oil jobs, then perhaps you would like to benefit from this websites high search engine rankings and the daily traffic that it gets. If you would like to find out how to get more exposure for your business then please contact us for more details.
If you are a candidate looking for a new career in this exciting and growing industry and if you would like to live and work in one of the best cities in the UK then please visit our links directory page to find your next position or, alternatively, if you would like an insight into how the oil industry works and why you should come to Aberdeen in particular, then please take some time to browse my blog. Its full of practical advice on getting a job, what to expect in the industry and, of course lots of tips on how to prepare for that all important job interview.
I hope that you find this blog both useful and informative and please feel free to come back often as I will be updating the content regularly If you have experience of the oil industry and would like to contribute to this project then please feel free to drop me a line and we'll see how we can work together.
In the meantime, good luck and stay in touch.


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|Sleep Inns Cary hotels are provided below. Search for cheap and discount Sleep Inns hotel prices in Cary, NC for your family, individual or group travels. We list the best Sleep Inns Cary hotels/properties so you can review the Cary Sleep Inns hotel list below to find the perfect place.
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Need a group/meeting discount? Get quotes from hotels in Cary NC
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Ash-Throated Flycatchers Nesting In My Backyard
Ash-Throated Flycatcher photo by Mark Schmitt
This beautiful peaceful bird is another one of my favorite nesting birds in my backyard. I think I love it mostly because of it's soft, melodious call and the ballet style movements of flight that the Ash-Throated Flycatcher demonstrates. When you see this bird flying, it looks so easy and effortless it makes you feel as if you could fly too. As you watch them catch insects in midair with graceful ease you can't help but be impressed. Listen to the Ash-throated Flycatcher by double clicking on the arrow below.
The Ash-throated Flycatcher breeds in desert scrub, riparian forest, brushy pastures and open woodlands from the western United States to central Mexico. It is a short-distance migrant, retreating from most of the U.S. spending the winter from northern Mexico and southern California and Arizona south to Honduras. Their nest is built in a tree cavity or similar natural hole or a man made birdhouse. They will readily nest in bluebird houses but I give them a bit more space with a 6″ x 6″ floor. To learn how to build them a birdhouse go here Build Your Own Flycatcher Birdhouse or click the link in the sidebar under "Bird Houses".
These beautiful birds are 7 – 8 inches long and weigh in at about 3/4 to 1 1/4 ounces. They are a medium sized bird with a short bushy crest and a long rusty tail. The upperparts are olive brown with a darker head. The breast is grey and the belly is a beautiful, very pale yellow. Their brown tail feathers and wings have rufous outer webs and they have two dull wing bars.
Ash-throated Flycatchers are primarily insectivores. They will capture insects off vegetation, on the ground and as you will see, in midair with the greatest of ease. They will also eat berries in winter if insects are unavailable.
The Ash-throated Flycatcher is one of my favorite birds to watch in my own backyard. If you can get a pair to breed in your backyard or on your property you will love them too. They will come back year after year to breed and give you many, many hours of enjoyment.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
- May 5, 2010 at 3:35 pm
We found a nest with 5 eggs in the seat of our 4-wheeler. I think it is the nest of an ash-throated flycatcher. We had to move the 4-wheeler. What should we do with the eggs and the nest? I am sick at the thought of the eggs not hatching.
- March 31, 2011 at 4:08 pm
I've never had much luck getting Myiarchus to use nest boxes, but man what a treat for those who do! I'm curious if Kim's birds ever came back to tend that clutch?
- April 10, 2012 at 6:02 am
I found a nesting site in the middle of our gravel driveway. There are two eggs so far (one laid yesterday, additional one overnite.) They are identical to an Ash Throated Flycatcher. We live in the west central part of Mississippi (Cleveland) in the country. I'm new to the bird watching scene and am very interested and puzzled regarding the nesting site being in the middle of our gravel drive. Your comments will be appreciated. I'm am having a grand time and can't understand why I haven't been doing this all my life!!!!!
- June 28, 2012 at 10:58 am
What do the eggs look like of the "Ash Throated Flycatcher"? I have a nest in a house plant on our patio with eggs of a "white with two little bands around the middle of the egg – these are kinda "pinkish" in color. Can you help me with this? I have seen the "mama" bird but don't know for sure "if" she is an "Ash Throated Flycatcher". Nothing like "nature" – and God's creation for us to enjoy!!! Thank you for any help you can give me.
- July 15, 2012 at 9:54 am
We live in the Cape Henlopen area of Delaware, yesterday we noticed a bird we have not seen before hanging around our apple tree. Turns out it is a Ash-throated Flycatcher and it seems to have a nest in the hollow branch of the tree. We have been watching the pair bring insects into the top of the branch and exiting out the bottom space of the branch. It has been so enjoyable to watch and they are very protective of the nest chasing the other birds away from the tree. Hoping to see the babies soon.
- May 12, 2014 at 3:43 pm
How long does it take for them to hatch
- May 29, 2014 at 2:18 pm
I have a phoebe nesting above my front door in north-central Michigan. I'm worried about disturbing the hen each time I go in and out. (I only have one door.) Consequently, I've become a bit of a prisoner in my home.
Suggestions? Reassurance?
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for Custom Jigsaw Puzzle Orders
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A multi-source x-ray/catheter delivers x-rays to a selected site within a body lumen. The x-ray sources are independently operable so that only the x-ray sources adjacent the target site generate x-rays during the procedure.
1. An apparatus for delivering x-rays to a selected site within a body cavity comprising:
an endoscope having a central lumen;
an x-ray shield which is impenetrable to x-rays positioned in said central lumen, said x-ray shield being penetrable to x-rays at a distal end thereof;
at least two x-ray sources positioned in respective lumens of said x-ray shield, said x-ray sources being operably connected to a power source and a multi-chambered positioning balloon on an outer surface of said endoscope.
2. The apparatus of
3. The apparatus of
4. The apparatus of
5. A method of treating a cancerous or precancerous condition in a lumen of a patient comprising:
inserting the apparatus of
positioning the apparatus proximate such that said at least two x-ray sources are proximate to the cancerous or precancerous condition; and
irradiating the tumor with a therapeutically effective amount of x-ray radiation generated from at least one of the x-ray sources.
6. A method of treating a cancerous or precancerous tissue in a lumen of a patient comprising:
inserting the apparatus of
positioning the apparatus proximate such that said at least two x-ray sources are proximate to the cancerous or precancerous tumor; and
irradiating the tumor with a therapeutically effective amount of x-ray radiation generated from at least one of the x-ray sources.
7. A method of treating a cancerous or precancerous tumor in a lumen of a patient comprising:
inserting the apparatus of
positioning the apparatus proximate such that said x-ray sources are proximate to the cancerous or precancerous tumor; and
irradiating the tumor with a therapeutically effective amount of x-ray radiation generated from at least one of the x-ray sources.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/709,661 filed Nov. 10, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,757, incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to a multi-source x-ray catheter that selectively generates x-rays to minimize adverse effects while maximizing therapeutic effectiveness.
Traditionally, x-rays have been used in the medical industry to view bone, tissue and teeth. X-rays have also been used to treat cancerous and precancerous conditions by exposing a patient to x-rays using an external x-ray source. Treatment of cancer with x-rays presents many well documented side effects, many of which are due to the broad exposure of the patient to the therapeutic x-rays.
Minimally invasive endoscopic techniques have been developed and are used to treat a variety of conditions. Endoluminal procedures are procedures performed with an endoscope, a tubular device into the lumen of which may be inserted a variety of rigid or flexible tools to treat or diagnose a patient's condition.
The desire for improved minimally invasive medical devices and techniques have led to the development of miniaturized x-ray devices that may be used in the treatment or prevention of a variety of medical conditions. International Publication No. WO 98/48899 discloses a miniature x-ray unit having an anode and cathode separated by a vacuum gap positioned inside a metal housing. The anode includes a base portion and a projecting portion. The x-ray unit is insulated and connected to a coaxial cable which, in turn, is connected to the power source. An x-ray window surrounds the projecting portion of the anode and the cathode so that the x-rays can exit the unit. The x-ray unit is sized for intra-vascular insertion, and may be used, inter alia, in vascular brachytherapy of coronary arteries, particularly after balloon angioplasty.
International Publication No. WO 97/07740 discloses an x-ray catheter having a catheter shaft with an x-ray unit attached to the distal end of the catheter shaft. The x-ray unit comprises an anode and a cathode coupled to an insulator to define a vacuum chamber. The x-ray unit is coupled to a voltage source via a coaxial cable. The x-ray unit can have a diameter of less than 4 mm and a length of less than about 15 mm, and can be used in conjunction with coronary angioplasty to prevent restenosis.
Miniaturized x-rays are not foolproof, however, and present difficulties. The x-ray unit generates heat, which can damage adjacent tissue. Additionally, x-rays are not localized and irradiate local tissue rather than only irradiating the desired site. Also, it is difficult to maintain the positioning of these instruments inside at the desired location. Improved miniaturized x-ray units the overcome these difficulties are desirable.
Other techniques are used to treat tumors with x-rays, including planting a seed of radioactive material at the tumor site, typically accomplished with endoluminal procedures. However, the patient becomes "hot", i.e., radioactive, and the procedure risks exposure of the medical personnel to radiation exposure.
As noted above, many types of cancerous and precancerous conditions are treated by irradiating the tumor or site with x-rays. However, the x-rays are broadcast over a large area of healthy tissue in addition to the tumor, since the radiation is administered from outside the body so that it penetrates the skin and any internal organs or tissue to reach the desired site. To avoid this, miniaturized x-ray systems which generate x-rays at the desired site are a desirable alternative to conventional apparatus.
Many types of cancer occur in a body cavity or lumen, such as in the rectum, vagina, esophagus or pulmonary passages. It is desirable to treat these cancers using miniaturized x-ray sources in combination with endoscopic techniques, which are minimally invasive to the patient, so that the cancer or other intraluminal tissue is directly treated with x-rays.
The present invention overcomes the difficulties associated with x-ray therapy and apparatus of the prior art by providing an multi-source x-ray device that generates x-rays at the site of treatment and minimizes exposure of other tissues to irradiation.
FIG. 1 is a cross-section of a preferred embodiment of a multi-source x-ray catheter according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment of multi-source x-ray catheter of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of a multi-source x-ray catheter of the present invention inside a body lumens;
FIGS. 4a and 4 b are an alternative embodiment having a hollow central lumen with a balloon therein which inflates to push the x-ray sources towards the desired site; and
FIG. 5 is a detail of an x-ray source according to the invention.
FIG. 1 is a cross section of a preferred multi-source x-ray catheter according to the invention. Catheter 1 includes at least two x-ray sources connected to a power supply by, e.g., a coaxial cable. The power supply delivers sufficient energy to the x-ray source 2 to generate therapeutically effective x-rays. Typically, voltages of from 10 to 60 kilovolts (kV) are needed to generate the x-rays. X-ray sources 2 are located inside a lumen of x-ray shield 5 which is impenetrable to x-rays except at its distal end or, optionally, via transparent windows. The x-ray sources are preferably evenly spaced about a circular catheter body and are preferably independently operable, that is, they may be selectively turned on or off by the operator (see 2 a and 2 b). The x-ray sources range from 1 to 15 mm in length and width. The overall diameter of the device ranges from 10 to 100 mm.
Inner guide 6 is located in the center lumen of catheter 1 and is surrounded by x-ray shields. Additional lumens in the catheter may contain a guide wire 7, circulation means 8, visual equipment 9, or other endoscopic tools as desired.
A preferred embodiment, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes at least one inflatable positioning balloon 20 adhered to the outer wall of the x-ray tube. Positioning balloon 20 is inflated after proper positioning of the apparatus in the body lumen so that the position of the x-ray source is maintained throughout treatment. Positioning balloon 20 may be adhered to the exterior wall of the x-ray tube by a suitable adhesive and is designed to bit inside catheter shields. This embodiment shows x-ray sources in the on 2 a and off 2 b positions. It is preferred that a plurality of balloons are provided. Alternatively, a multi-chambered balloon is provided to aid proper positioning of the apparatus in the body lumen.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, a gas or liquid coolant is passed through balloon 20 via tubes which communicate with both the interior of positioning balloon 20 and a gas or liquid reservoir. A respective circulation duct is provided for each balloon or balloon chamber so that they may be independently inflated. The positioning balloons 20 may be inflated with a gas or a liquid, but an x-ray absorbent liquid is preferred. Normal saline is a particularly preferred liquid because it has a high heat capacity, is x-ray absorbent, and, in the unlikely event of leakage, is compatible with the patient.
Optionally, a balloon 20 may be positioned in the center of the device as shown in FIG. 4 and inflated to push x-ray sources 2 outwardly in the direction of the target tissue. In this embodiment, catheter body 1 and x-ray shield are made of flexible material, e.g., plastic, to expand or contract with the inflation or deflation of the balloon.
Thermocouple 26 may be optionally affixed or placed in the vicinity of the x-ray source to measure temperature during the procedure. Thermocouple 26 may be in the form of a bimetallic strip and is operatively connected to a temperature display device so that the temperature is monitored during the procedure.
FIG. 3 shows an endoscope having an x-ray catheter according to the invention positioned inside a body lumen. The device is positioned inside the lumen, and balloons 20 are inflated to position the catheter near the target site, in this case, a tumor. The x-ray sources 2 a adjacent to the tumor are turned on by the operator to generate x-rays, while the x-ray sources opposite the tumor remain in the off position 2 b. The tumor is irradiated with the appropriate dose of x-rays, and withdrawn from the body lumen.
FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of a typical x-ray source used in accordance with the invention.
The present invention also relates to methods of treatment, prophylaxis and adjunctive therapy using the miniaturized x-ray apparatus of the present invention. Suitable for use with other endoscopic equipment, the x-ray device may be used to treat cancers of bodily lumens such as colorectal cancer, vaginal cancer, esophageal cancer, pulmonary cancers such as lung cancers, stomach cancer, oral cancers, or any cancer accessible by a bodily lumen by positioning the device adjacent the target tissue and irradiating the tissue with a therapeutically effective amount of x-rays. In similar fashion, one can treat pre-cancerous conditions or conditions related with cancer such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Although the present invention has been shown and described with respect to several preferred embodiments thereof, additional embodiments will be apparent to the skilled artisan without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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