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Volume 33, Issue 8, August 2006
Within the next five years CT colonography will make conventional colonoscopy obsolete for colon cancer screening33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2189710View Description Hide Description
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Calibration procedures for seeds preloaded in cartridges33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2207145View Description Hide Description
Radioactive seeds preloaded in sterilized cartridges or needles are commonly obtainable from manufacturers. Under the US regulations for control of radioactive materials, seed users are required to account for all seeds and independently verify their air kerma strength . As a result, the viability of inspection schemes that rely on measurement of aggregate seeds is of interest. In this paper we consider the conditions (if any) under which cartridge inspection can satisfy regulatory requirements and still provide practical benefit (i.e., time savings) against the regular single-seed assay. The standards for comparison are the recommendations of AAPM TG40, AAPM TG56, and ACR's "Standard for the Performance of Manually Loaded Brachytherapy Sources." The practical benefit is judged in comparison to the effort required to apply the 10% assay recommendation of TG40 to seeds in cartridges. Two specific cartridge inspection schemes are considered: (a) measuring the of each cartridge in a batch; (b) measuring a single cartridge sampled at random from the batch. Unlike the 10% assay, which is defined (imperfectly, in our view) without reference to the prevalence of in-calibration seeds, the estimation of the relative merits of cartridge inspection methods must necessarily include such information and, as such, is manufacturer specific. In this paper results are provided for Oncura model 6711 seeds in shielded and unshielded Mick cartridges. We show that the only practically useful cartridge inspection scheme is the batch scheme applied to unshielded cartridges. The false positive rates associated with the other schemes are such that we expect to open a cartridge (and perform the 10% assay) at least 80% of the time. While anything less than 100% of the time is theoretically an improvement, this neglects the additional effort required to assay the cartridges.
Class solution for inversely planned permanent prostate implants to mimic an experienced dosimetrist33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2210565View Description Hide Description
The purpose of this paper is to present a method for the selection of inverse planning parameters and to establish a set of inverse planning parameters (class solution) for the inverse planning included in a commercial permanent prostate implant treatment planning system. The manual planning of more than 750 patients since 1996 led to the establishment of general treatment planning rules. A class solution is tuned to fulfill the treatment planning rules and generate equivalent implants. For ten patients, the inverse planning is compared with manual planning performed by our experienced physicist. The prostate volumes ranged from 17 to and are implanted with low activity I-125 seeds. Dosimetric indices are calculated for comparison. The inverse planning needed about for each optimization ( iterations on a PC). In comparison, the physicist needed about to perform each manual plan. A class solution is found that consistently produces dosimetric indices equivalent or better than the manual planning. Moreover, even with strict seed placement rules, the inverse planning can produce adequate prostate dose coverage and organ at risk protection. The inverse planning avoids implant with seeds outside of the prostate and too close to the urethra. It also avoids needles with only one seed and needles with three consecutive seeds. This reduces the risk of complication due to seed misplacement and edema. The inverse planning also uses a smaller number of needles, reducing the cause of trauma. The quality of the treatment plans is independent of the gland size and shape. A class solution is established that consistently and rapidly produces equivalent dosimetric indices as manual planning while respecting severe seed placement rules. The class solution can be used as a starting point for every patient, dramatically reducing the time needed to plan individual patient treatments. The class solution works with inverse preplanning, intraoperative inverse preplanning, and intraoperative real-time planning. This technology is not intended to replace the physicist but to accelerate the planning process, making intraoperative treatment planning more effective.
The susceptibility of IMRT dose distributions to intrafraction organ motion: An investigation into smoothing filters derived from four dimensional computed tomography data33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2219329View Description Hide Description
This study investigated the sensitivity of static planning of intensity-modulated beams (IMBs) to intrafraction deformable organ motion and assessed whether smoothing of the IMBs at the treatment-planning stage can reduce this sensitivity. The study was performed with a 4D computed tomography(CT) data set for an IMRT treatment of a patient with livercancer. Fluence profiles obtained from inverse-planning calculations on a standard reference CT scan were redelivered on a CT scan from the 4D data set at a different part of the breathing cycle. The use of a nonrigid registration model on the 4D data set additionally enabled detailed analysis of the overall intrafraction motion effects on the IMRT delivery during free breathing. Smoothing filters were then applied to the beam profiles within the optimization process to investigate whether this could reduce the sensitivity of IMBs to intrafraction organ motion. In addition, optimal fluence profiles from calculations on each individual phase of the breathing cycle were averaged to mimic the convolution of a static dose distribution with a motion probability kernel and assess its usefulness. Results from nonrigid registrations of the CT scan data showed a maximum liver motion of in superior-inferior direction for this patient. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) comparison indicated a systematic shift when planning treatment on a motion-frozen, standard CT scan but delivering over a full breathing cycle. The ratio of the dose to 50% of the normal liver to 50% of the planning target volume (PTV) changed up to 28% between different phases. Smoothing beam profiles with a median-window filter did not overcome the substantial shift in dose due to a difference in breathing phase between planning and delivery of treatment. Averaging of optimal beam profiles at different phases of the breathing cycle mainly resulted in an increase in dose to the organs at risk (OAR) and did not seem beneficial to compensate for organ motion compared with using a large margin. Additionally, the results emphasized the need for 4D CT scans when aiming to reduce the internal margin (IM). Using only a single planning scan introduces a systematic shift in the dose distribution during delivery. Smoothing beam profiles either based on a single scan or over the different breathing phases was not beneficial for reducing this shift.
Octree indexing of DICOM images for voxel number reduction and improvement of Monte Carlo simulation computing efficiency33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2214305View Description Hide Description
The purpose of the present study is to introduce a compression algorithm for the CT(computed tomography) data used in Monte Carlo simulations. Performing simulations on the CT data implies large computational costs as well as large memory requirements since the number of voxels in such data reaches typically into hundreds of millions voxels. CT data, however, contain homogeneous regions which could be regrouped to form larger voxels without affecting the simulation's accuracy. Based on this property we propose a compression algorithm based on octrees: in homogeneous regions the algorithm replaces groups of voxels with a smaller number of larger voxels. This reduces the number of voxels while keeping the critical high-density gradient area. Results obtained using the present algorithm on both phantom and clinical data show that compression rates up to 75% are possible without losing the dosimetric accuracy of the simulation.
GLAaS: An absolute dose calibration algorithm for an amorphous silicon portal imager. Applications to IMRT verifications33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2218314View Description Hide Description
A new calibration algorithm (GLAaS) to derive absolute dose maps from images acquired with the Varian PV-aS500 electronic portal imager (based on amorphous silicondetectors) has been developed incorporating the dependence of detector response on primary and transmitted radiation and on field size.Detectorcalibration and algorithm validation were performed at different depths (10.0, 3.8, 1.5, and ) in solid water to investigate various application possibilities. Calibration data were obtained against ion chamber measurements. Validation experiments were performed on intensity-modulated fields and comparison was carried out against calculated dose maps as well as against film measurements. Split fields were acquired independently and PV-aS500 images were summed offline with the new algorithm allowing complex fields to be verified in conditions most closely resembling clinical conditions. Excellent results were obtained for the 3.8, 1.5, and 0.8 depths on a set of 34 modulated fields including both split and nonsplit fields. Applying the gamma index analysis (with distance to agreement and dose thresholds set to and 4%, respectively), only 2.3% of the field area showed at depth (8.1%, 3.1%, 2.7% at 10.0, 3.8, and 0.8 and 2.5% with films at depth). Tests were also performed to verify GLAaS at gantry angles different from 0°. No statistical differences were obtained for the comparison between split and nonsplit fields and between different gantry angles. Highly significant statistical differences were obtained when comparing independent samples of 240 fields verified either with GLAaS or with film. Fields verified with GLAaS presented a mean area with of while for film this value was . Absolute dosimetry proved to be reliable with the PV-aS500 detector with the GLAaS algorithm. The minimal settings at depths of 1.5 or would allow the use of the detector at any gantry angle without the need for any special fixation tool.
Development and application of a real-time monitoring and feedback system for deep inspiration breath hold based on external marker tracking33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2219775View Description Hide Description
Respiration can cause tumor movements in thoracic regions of up to . To minimize motion effects several approaches, such as gating and deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH), are still under development. The goal of our study was to develop and evaluate a noninvasive system for gated DIBH (GDIBH) based on external markers. DIBH monitoring was based on an infrared tracking system and an in-house-developed software. The in-house software provided the breathing curve in real time and was used as on-line information for a prototype of a feedback device. Reproducibility and stability of the breath holds were evaluated without and with feedback. Thirty-five patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT) performed DIBH maneuvers after each treatment. For 16 patients dynamic imaging sequences on a multislice CT were used to determine the correlation between tumor and external markers. The relative reproducibility of DIBH maneuvers was improved with the feedback device ( without versus with feedback). The correlation between tumor and marker was good (Pearson correlation coefficient ). The regression slopes showed great intersubject variability but on average the internal margin in a DIBH treatment situation could be theoretically reduced by with the feedback device. DIBH monitoring could be realized in a noninvasive manner through external marker tracking. We conclude that reduction of internal margins can be achieved with a feedback system but should be performed with great care due to the individual behavior of target motion.
Inclusion of compensator-induced scatter and beam filtration in pencil beam dose calculations33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2219777View Description Hide Description
Compensators can be used as beam intensity modulation devices for intensity-modulated radiation therapy applications. In contrast with multileaf collimators, compensators introduce scatter and beam hardening into the therapeutic x-ray beam. The degree of scatter and beam filtering depends on the compensator material and beam energy. Pencil beam dose calculation models can be used to derive the shape of the compensator. In this study a novel way of incorporating the effect of compensator-induced scatter and beam filtration is presented. The study was conducted using 6, 8, and polyenergetic pencil beams (PBs). The compensator materials that were studied included wax, brass,copper, and lead. The perturbation effects of the compensators on the PB dose profiles were built in the PB dose profiles and tested for regular fields containing a step compensator and benchmarked against DOSXYZnrc Monte Carlo calculated dose profiles. These effects include compensator beam filtration and Compton-scattered photons generated in the compensator materials that influence the resulting PB dose profiles. These data were obtained from DOSXYZnrc simulations. A Gaussian function was used to model off-axis scatter and an exponential function was used to model beam hardening at any radius, . Dose profiles were calculated under a step compensator using the method that can model beam hardening and off-axis scatter, as well as a conventional method where the PB profiles are not adjusted, but a single effective attenuation coefficient is used instead to best match the dose profiles. Both sets of data were compared to the DOSXYZnrc data. Depth and profile dose data for and fields indicated that at depth in water the method that takes compensator scatter into account agrees more closely with the DOSXYZnrc data compared to the data using only an effective attenuation coefficient. Further, it was found that the effective attenuation method can only replicate the DOSXYZnrc data at depth where it was chosen to do so. At shallower depths the effective attenuation method overestimates the dose and beyond depth it causes an underestimation in the dose. The scatter and beam hardening inclusion method does not exhibit such properties. The exclusion of scatter can lead to dose errors of up to 4 percent with a copper compensator at depth for a field under a thickness of at . For materials such as lead this discrepancy could be as high as 7 to 8 percent at . For larger fields the effect of in-phantom scatter reduces the differences between the dose profiles calculated with the mentioned methods.
In vivo motion and force measurement of surgical needle intervention during prostate brachytherapy33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2218061View Description Hide Description
In this paper, we present needle insertion forces and motion trajectories measured during actual brachytherapy needle insertion while implanting radioactive seeds in the prostate glands of 20 different patients. The needle motion was captured using ultrasoundimages and a 6 degree-of-freedom electromagnetic-based position sensor. Needle velocity was computed from the position information and the corresponding time stamps. From in vivo data we found the maximum needle insertion forces to be about 15.6 and for and needles, respectively. Part of this difference in insertion forces is due to the needle size difference (17G and 18G) and the other part is due to the difference in tissue properties that are specific to the individual patient. Some transverse forces were observed, which are attributed to several factors such as tissue heterogeneity, organ movement, human factors in surgery, and the interaction between the template and the needle. However, theses insertion forces are significantly responsible for needle deviation from the desired trajectory and target movement. Therefore, a proper selection of needle and modulated velocity (translational and rotational) may reduce the tissue deformation and target movement by reducing insertion forces and thereby improve the seed delivery accuracy. The knowledge gleaned from this study promises to be useful for not only designing mechanical/robotic systems but also developing a predictive deformation model of the prostate and real-time adaptive controlling of the needle.
A sensitivity-guided algorithm for automated determination of IMRT objective function parameters33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2214171View Description Hide Description
Optimizing intensity-modulated radiotherapy(IMRT) plans involves tradeoffs that balance normal-tissue objectives against each other and against tumor objectives. Adjusting the parameters that determine the appropriate contributions of individual anatomic structures to the objective functions through trial and error is time consuming and may not produce the best achievable plans. We have developed a sensitivity-guided parameter optimization (SGPO) method to assist in the automatic determination of parameters to drive the IMRToptimization to better achieve, or even exceed, specified planning goals. The method is based on the trade-off relationships among multiple objectives: In a globally optimal plan (or within a convex subspace of the plan objectives), any attempt to improve the achievement of goals for a structure will result in sacrificing the goals for at least one other structure. However, different objectives may have different sensitivities to the overall goal of an IMRT plan. For instance, changes in dose distribution, hence the subscore corresponding to an objective for a given normal structure, may minimally impact the target dose distribution. Stated differently, the target coverage is insensitive to the changes in dose distribution of the specific normal structure. A lungcancer treatment plan designed with the SGPO method was used to demonstrate that IMRT plans could be designed to favor a structure with the highest target sensitivity and spare the structures with the least target sensitivity without compromising the target coverage. Using one case each of prostate and paranasal sinus cancers, we also demonstrated that several alternative optimal solutions could be designed with the SGPO algorithm favoring different structures. Finally, we applied the method to eight oropharyngeal cancer cases to obtain objective function parameters that satisfied the Radiation TherapyOncology Group RTOG-H-0022 protocol. The eight plans optimized using the computer-generated objective function parameters met the protocol's scoring criteria with no or only minor protocol violations. Our preliminary study indicates that the SGPO method may be an effective and practical way to improve IMRT planning.
Optimized approach to decision fusion of heterogeneous data for breast cancer diagnosis33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2208934View Description Hide Description
As more diagnostic testing options become available to physicians, it becomes more difficult to combine various types of medicalinformation together in order to optimize the overall diagnosis. To improve diagnostic performance, here we introduce an approach to optimize a decision-fusion technique to combine heterogeneous information, such as from different modalities, feature categories, or institutions. For classifier comparison we used two performance metrics: The receiving operator characteristic (ROC) area under the curve [area under the ROC curve (AUC)] and the normalized partial area under the curve (pAUC). This study used four classifiers: Linear discriminant analysis (LDA), artificial neural network (ANN), and two variants of our decision-fusion technique, AUC-optimized (DF-A) and pAUC-optimized (DF-P) decision fusion. We applied each of these classifiers with 100-fold cross-validation to two heterogeneous breast cancerdata sets: One of mass lesion features and a much more challenging one of microcalcification lesion features. For the calcification data set, DF-A outperformed the other classifiers in terms of AUC and achieved . The DF-P surpassed the other classifiers in terms of pAUC and reached . For the mass data set, DF-A outperformed both the ANN and the LDA and achieved . Although for this data set there were no statistically significant differences among the classifiers' pAUC values ( to , ), the DF-P did significantly improve specificity versus the LDA at both 98% and 100% sensitivity . In conclusion, decision fusion directly optimized clinically significant performance measures, such as AUC and pAUC, and sometimes outperformed two well-known machine-learning techniques when applied to two different breast cancerdata sets.
Monte Carlo study of a Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgery system33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2219774View Description Hide Description
This study investigated small-field dosimetry for a Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgery system using Monte Carlo simulations. The EGSnrc/BEAMnrc Monte Carlo code was used to simulate the Cyberknife treatment head, and the DOSXYZnrc code was implemented to calculate central axis depth-dose curves, off-axis dose profiles, and relative output factors for various circular collimator sizes of . Water-to-air stopping power ratios necessary for clinical reference dosimetry of the Cyberknife system were also evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, a beam quality conversion factor, , for the Cyberknife system was evaluated for cylindrical ion chambers with different wall material. The accuracy of the simulated beam was validated by agreement within 2% between the Monte Carlo calculated and measured central axis depth-dose curves and off-axis dose profiles. The calculated output factors were compared with those measured by a diode detector and an ion chamber in water. The diode output factors agreed within 1% with the calculated values down to a collimator. The output factors with the ion chamber decreased rapidly for collimators below . These results were confirmed by the comparison to those from Monte Carlo methods with voxel sizes and materials corresponding to both detectors. It was demonstrated that the discrepancy in the 5 and collimators for the diode detector is due to the water nonequivalence of the silicon material, and the dose fall-off for the ion chamber is due to its large active volume against collimators below . The calculated stopping power ratios of the collimator from the Cyberknife system (without a flattening filter) agreed within 0.2% with those of a field from a conventional linear accelerator with a heavy flattening filter and the incident electron energy, . The difference in the stopping power ratios between 5 and collimators was within 0.5% at a depth in water. Furthermore, values for the Cyberknife system were in agreement within 0.3% with those of the conventional -linear accelerator for the cylindrical ion chambers with different wall material.
A comparison between amplitude sorting and phase-angle sorting using external respiratory measurement for 4D CT33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2219772View Description Hide Description
Respiratory motion can cause significant dose delivery errors in conformal radiation therapy for thoracic and upper abdominal tumors. Four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT) has been proposed to provide the image data necessary to model tumor motion and consequently reduce these errors. The purpose of this work was to compare 4D CTreconstruction methods using amplitude sorting and phase angle sorting. A 16-slice CT scanner was operated in ciné mode to acquire 25 scans consecutively at each couch position through the thorax. The patient underwent synchronized external respiratory measurements. The scans were sorted into 12 phases based, respectively, on the amplitude and direction (inhalation or exhalation) or on the phase angle of the external respiratory signal. With the assumption that lung motion is largely proportional to the measured respiratory amplitude, the variation in amplitude corresponds to the variation in motion for each phase. A smaller variation in amplitude would associate with an improved reconstructed image. Air content, defined as the amount of air within the lungs, bronchi, and trachea in a 16-slice CT segment and used by our group as a surrogate for internal motion, was correlated to the respiratory amplitude and phase angle throughout the lungs. For the 35 patients who underwent quiet breathing, images (similar to those used for treatment planning) and animations (used to display respiratory motion) generated using amplitude sorting displayed fewer reconstruction artifacts than those generated using phase angle sorting. The variations in respiratory amplitude were significantly smaller with amplitude sorting than those with phase angle sorting. The subdivision of the breathing cycle into more (finer) phases improved the consistency in respiratory amplitude for amplitude sorting, but not for phase angle sorting. For 33 of the 35 patients, the air content showed significantly improved correlation with the respiratory amplitude than with the phase angle, suggesting a stronger relationship between internal motion and amplitude. Overall, amplitude sorting performed better than phase angle sorting for 33 of the 35 patients and equally well for two patients who were immobilized with a stereotactic body frame and an abdominal compression plate.
Commissioning of a conformal irradiation system for heavy-ion radiotherapy using a layer-stacking method33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2219771View Description Hide Description
The commissioning of conformal radiotherapy system using heavy-ion beams at the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC) is described in detail. The system at HIMAC was upgraded for a clinical trial using a new technique: large spot uniform scanning with conformal layer stacking. The system was developed to localize the irradiation dose to the target volume more effectively than with the old system. With the present passive irradiation method using a ridge filter, a scatterer, a pair of wobbler magnets, and a multileaf collimator, the width of the spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP) in the radiation field could not be changed. With dynamic control of the beam-modifying devices during irradiation, a more conformal radiotherapy could be achieved. In order to safely perform treatments with this conformal therapy, the moving devices should be watched during irradiation and the synchronousness among the devices should be verified. This system, which has to be safe for patient irradiations, was constructed and tested for safety and for the quality of the dose localization realized. Through these commissioning tests, we were successfully able to prepare the conformal technique using layer stacking for patients. Subsequent to commissioning the technique has been applied to patients in clinical trials.
Efficient photon beam dose calculations using DOSXYZnrc with BEAMnrc33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2219778View Description Hide Description
This study examines the efficiencies of doses calculated using DOSXYZnrc for (field size) and ( and field sizes)photon beams simulated using BEAMnrc. Both phase-space sources and full BEAMnrc simulation sources are used in the DOSXYZnrc calculations. BEAMnrc simulation sources consist of a BEAMnrc accelerator simulation compiled as a shared library and run by the user code (DOSXYZnrc in this case) to generate source particles. Their main advantage is in eliminating the need to store intermediate phase-space files. In addition, the efficiency improvements due to photon splitting and particle recycling in the DOSXYZnrc simulation are examined. It is found that photon splitting increases dose calculation efficiency by a factor of up to 6.5, depending on beam energy, field size, voxel size, and the type of secondary collimation used in the BEAMnrc simulation (multileaf collimator vs photon jaws). The optimum efficiency with photon splitting is higher than that with particle recycling, indicating that, while most of the gain is due to time saved by reusing source particle data, there is significant gain due to the uniform distribution of interaction sites and faster DOSXYZnrc simulation time when photon splitting is employed. Use of optimized directional bremsstrahlung splitting in the BEAMnrc simulation sources increases the efficiency of photon beam simulations sufficiently that the peak efficiencies (i.e., with optimum setting of the photon splitting number) of DOSXYZnrc simulations using these sources are only 3–13% lower than those with phase-space file sources. This points towards eliminating the need for storing intermediate phase-space files.
A pulse-rate dependence of dose per monitor unit and its significant effect on wedged-shaped fields delivered with variable dose rate and a moving jaw33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2211709View Description Hide Description
Wedge-shaped dose distributions are delivered on some modern linear accelerators with a virtual wedge, combining variable dose rate and a moving jaw. Drift in the wedge factor and wedge angle of a field for the virtual wedge was found commonplace in several models of linear accelerator from one manufacturer. It was found that errors in dose delivery both on and off axis could exceed 5% if quality assurance checks are limited to or smaller fields or wedge angles of or less. A procedure to easily identify and remedy the problem is presented. In each case the change was due to variation in dose per monitor unit (D/MU) with the electron beam pulse rate. The variation was traced to a pair of circuit boards in the dosimetry system, one for each output measurement channel. Wedge factors and dose profiles measured before and after board replacement on 4 accelerators, and for a set of defective boards placed on one of the accelerators, were compared. The effect was largest for the wedge with the steepest profile ( wedge angle) and the largest field measured: . In this case, a 1% variation in D/MU with a factor of 5 reduction in pulse rate corresponded to an average 0.8% change in wedge factor and 0.8% change in the off axis ratio at off axis on the high dose side of the wedge field, 0.3% on the low dose side. After board replacement, wedge factors and profiles measured on the 4 machines generally agreed to 2% for the full range of wedge angles and field sizes.Quality assurance of virtual wedges is discussed in light of the new findings.
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Imaging of joints with laser-based photoacoustic tomography: An animal study33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2214166View Description Hide Description
Photoacoustictomography(PAT), a nonionizing, noninvasive, laser-based technology was adapted to joint imaging for the first time. Pulsed laser light in the near-infrared region was directed toward a joint with resultant ultrasonic signals recorded and used to reconstructimages that present the optical properties in subsurface joint tissues. The feasibility of this joint imaging system was validated on a Sprague Dawley rat tail model and verified through comparison with histology. With sufficient penetration depth, PAT realized tomographic imaging of a joint as a whole organ noninvasively. Based on the optical contrast, various intra- and extra-articular tissues, including skin, fat, muscle, blood vessels, synovium and bone, were presented successfully in images with satisfactory spatial resolution that was primarily limited by the bandwidth of detected photoacoustic signals rather than optical diffusion as occurs in traditional optical imaging. PAT, with its intrinsic advantages, may provide a unique opportunity to enable the early diagnosis of inflammatory joint disorders, e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, and to monitor therapeutic outcomes with high sensitivity and accuracy.
Anisotropic imaging performance in indirect x-ray imaging detectors33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2208925View Description Hide Description
We report on the variability in imagingsystem performance due to oblique x-ray incidence, and the associated transport of quanta (both x rays and optical photons) through the phosphor, in columnar indirect digital detectors. The analysis uses MANTIS, a combined x-ray, electron, and optical Monte Carlo transport code freely available. We describe the main features of the simulation method and provide some validation of the phosphor screen models considered in this work. We report x-ray and electron three-dimensional energy deposition distributions and point-response functions (PRFs), including optical spread in columnar phosphor screens of thickness and , for 19, 39, 59, and monoenergetic x-ray beams incident at , , and . In addition, we present pulse-height spectra for the same phosphor thickness, x-ray energies, and angles of incidence. Our results suggest that the PRF due to the phosphor blur is highly nonsymmetrical, and that the resolution properties of a columnar screen in a tomographic, or tomosynthetic imagingsystem varies significantly with the angle of x-ray incidence. Moreover, we find that the noise due to the variability in the number of light photonsdetected per primary x-ray interaction, summarized in the information or Swank factor, is somewhat independent of thickness and incidence angle of the x-ray beam. Our results also suggest that the anisotropy in the PRF is not less in screens with absorptive backings, while the noise introduced by variations in the gain and optical transport is larger. Predictions from MANTIS, after additional validation, can provide the needed understanding of the extent of such variations, and eventually, lead to the incorporation of the changes in imaging performance with incidence angle into the reconstruction algorithms for volumetric x-ray imagingsystems.
Scanning-beam digital x-ray (SBDX) technology for interventional and diagnostic cardiac angiography33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2208736View Description Hide Description
The scanning-beam digital x-ray (SBDX) system is designed for x-ray dose reduction in cardiac angiographic applications. Scatter reduction, efficient detection of primary x-rays, and an inverse beam geometry are the main components of the entrance dose reduction strategy. This paper reports the construction of an SBDX prototype, image reconstruction techniques, and measurements of spatial resolution and x-ray output. The x-ray source has a focal spot that is electronically scanned across a large-area transmission target. A multihole collimator beyond the target defines a series of x-ray beams directed at a distant small-area detector array. The prototype has a target, focal spot positions, and a detector positioned from the target. With this nonmechanical method of beam scanning, patient images with low detectedscatter are generated at up to . SBDX data acquisition is tomosynthetic. The prototype simultaneously reconstructs 16 planes spaced throughout the cardiac volume using shift-and-add backprojection. Image frames analogous to conventional projection images are generated with a multiplane compositing algorithm. Single-plane versus multiplane reconstruction of contrast-filled coronary arteries is demonstrated with images of the porcine heart. Phantom and porcine imaging studies show multiplane reconstruction is practicable under clinically realistic levels of patient attenuation and cardiac motion. The modulation transfer function for an in-plane slit at mechanical isocenter measured at , depending on the detector element to image pixel interpolation technique. Modeling indicates that desired gains in spatial resolution are achievable by halving the detector element width. The x-ray exposure rate below isocenter, without table or patient in the beam, measured at , and at , .
Comparison of entrance exposure and signal-to-noise ratio between an SBDX prototype and a wide-beam cardiac angiographic system33(2006); http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2198198View Description Hide Description
The scanning-beam digital x-ray (SBDX) system uses an inverse geometry, narrow x-ray beam, and a 2-mm thick detector to improve the dose efficiency of the coronary angiographic procedure. Entrance exposure and large-area iodine signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) were measured with the SBDX prototype and compared to that of a clinical cardiac interventional system with image intensifier (II) and charge coupled device(CCD) camera (Philips H5000, MRC-200 x-ray tube, max). Phantoms were acrylic with an iohexol-equivalent disk placed at midthickness ( iodine radiographic density). Imaging was performed at , with the disk at mechanical isocenter and an object-plane field width. The II/CCD system was operated in cine mode with automatic exposure control. With the SBDX prototype at maximum x-ray output (, ), the SBDX SNR was 107%–69% of the II/CCD SNR, depending on phantom thickness, and the SBDX entrance exposure rate was ( air kerma). For phantoms where an equal-kVp imaging comparison was possible , the SBDX SNR ranged from 47% to 69% of the II/CCD SNR while delivering 6% to 9% of the II/CCD entrance exposure rate. From these measurements it was determined that the relative SBDX entrance exposure at equal SNR would be 31%–16%. Results were consistent with a model for relative entrance exposure at equal SNR, which predicted a 3–7 times reduction in entrance exposure due to SBDX's comparatively low scatter fraction (5.5%–8.1% measured, including off-focus radiation), high detectordetective quantum efficiency (66%–73%, measured from 70 to ), and large entrance field area (, for the same object-plane field width). With improvements to the system geometry, detector, and x-ray source, SBDX technology is projected to achieve conventional cine-quality SNR over a full range of patient thicknesses, with 5–10 times lower skin dose.


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Incorporated: May 1990, NC
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Kross Lieberman & Stone Inc offers world wide commercial collection services.

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Showing a friend how much is snowed overnight. She was surprised.
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Trina Aitch:
February 17, 2014 at 7:22 pm
I've been going to this site too long. I read cooler as cooter at first. Haha.
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February 25, 2014 at 3:55 am
I know right? You think you see the auto correct, have a laugh then realize it wasn't. Then have a smaller laugh at the real one..
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And they're off- Inaugural Kiteboard racing at Phuket King's Cup
by King's Cup Event Media on 7 Dec 2011
Day 1 of the Kiteboard Class. 2011 Phuket King's Cup Regatta. Duncan Worthington
Much has been said of mixing kite boarding and sailing and much more will be said in the lead up to the 2016 Olympics as the kite board fraternity pitch to be an official event. While these discussions continue, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta in Thailand has taken a bold step introducing a Kiteboard Class to the 25-year old multi-class regatta.
Kevin Whitcraft, President of the Regatta Organising Committee explains, 'ISAF is promoting kite boarding and it could be an Olympic demonstration event as soon as 2016 in Brazil.'
'The Committee decided that it is likely to become an Olympic class at some point and the discipline is attracting a younger generation of sailors. We thought it was important for the Phuket King's Cup to be a leader and bring kite boarding into this event as there are opportunities for our lighter weight Asian sailors in that class.'
Fifteen knots of wind greeted the Kiteboard Class today as the boarders took to the water off Karon Beach for their first day of racing at the Phuket King's Cup Regatta. Low winds meant the fleet had stayed ashore for the previous two days but on Day Three of the Regatta, the morning winds arrived on cue and Race Management set a startline approximately two kilometres offshore and lay a windward/leeward course.
Following a brief AP (the postponement flag), the boarders went into sequence. As the start horn sounded participants bore down on the line, accelerated and crossed the line at 15 plus knots.
The long startline saw most boarders choose the pin and made for a close and exciting start. Olivier Dansin (France) stretched away and won Race One – the inaugural race in the Phuket King's Cup Regatta Kiteboard Class – followed by two-time Asian champion Narapichit Pudla (Thailand) in second, and Phasakorn Phaetraksa (Thailand) in third.
Race Officer Phil Mandeau, set a shorter course for Race Two and got the boarders away quickly. Olivier continued his winning ways and made it two wins from two with Thai star Narapichit staking his claim putting in a good performance to take second from Alexander Salih (Turkey) in third.
With 15 knot winds gusting to 20 plus, the conditions were testing for all. An impressive site indeed – the first time in Asia a Kiteboard Class has been part of a multi-class sailing regatta.
When powered up, the kite boarders are deceiving, appearing to glide elegantly over the sea, yet when tracked on the course as the media boat reached 25 knots, the kite boarder was still catching.
For full results of the Kiteboard Class and other classes in the Phuket King's Cup Regatta, visit http://www.kingscup.com/index.cfm?ntid=1223.
Day 3 Afternoon TV Report - with Kiteboarding
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/91575
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HP 530 Notebook recovery disc
Hi can anyone help with a recovery disc for a HP 530 Notebook Vista Home? Mine doesn't work!
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc[ Edited ]
07-28-2012 02:43 PM - edited 07-28-2012 02:43 PM
You can contact HP for the country you live in at the link below and order a set of quick restore DVD's.
Cal the number listed for business PC'/Notebooks.
You will need to provide the model number and serial number.
Cost varies by location.
You can also make your own generic Vista installation disk if you want...
If you can read your 25 character MS product key, you can make your own Windows Vista installation disk. Just download the 3 files you need at the link below, and read all of the instructions to create a bootable DVD installation disk using imageburn.
Disregard the part of the text under the first screen shot about "extract the files to the Vista folder."
The files were already extracted to that folder when you ran the X14.exe file by reading the text on top of the first screen shot.
The other thing I noticed is on the 4th screen shot, where it shows Developer ID Microsoft Corporation. I had to type Microsoft Corporation in myself, and then the other codes automatically populated.
When I went to compile the ISO file, ImageBurn gave a message that about a WIM file and ISO, and if I wanted to burn it in a different format.
I selected No, make the ISO file.
It was not that hard to do. I burned both the 64 bit disk and the 32 bit disk in case I ever need them.
I tested both of them (just short of going ahead with the actual install) and they appeared to work perfectly.
Apparently when you enter the product key, it knows what version of Vista you have.
After you successfully install vista, you can then visit your PC's support and driver page and install the drivers you need.
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc[ Edited ]
07-28-2012 02:46 PM - last edited on 04-19-2016 10:49 AM by OscarFuentes
Is it because of scratches? There are fairly inexpensive polishing devices that will remove light scratches.
These directions are not for your exact model but I think you will get the idea if you want to order them:
You may have a bad DVD reader and maybe able to read your disk with an external DVD.
Reminder: Please select the "Accept as Solution" button on the post that best answers your question. Also, you may click on the white star in the "Kudos" button for any helpful post to give that person a quick thanks. These feedback tools help keep our community active, so you receive better answers faster.
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc
Thank you so much. I got the Vista iso and now have the laptop working again!
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc
Great !
Reminder: Please select the "Accept as Solution" button on the post that best answers your question. Also, you may click on the white star in the "Kudos" button for any helpful post to give that person a quick thanks. These feedback tools help keep our community active, so you receive better answers faster.
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc
You're very welcome!
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc
I am trying to find recovery disc for my hp compaq presario cq60. I made recovery discs when I first bought the laptop. I had some missing installer and other problems, recovery disc 3 worked, I followed directions made a backup on usb, and went back to factory settings, or so I thought. When I put recovery discs in all I get is BOOTMGR missing press ctrl+alt+delete to re start I have done that but all I get is a blinking line in upper left corner. I have pressed f8 f11 and f12 but all I get are beeps. I have all my info and my product key for Vista any Ideas? Thanks
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc
Link shared doesn't work
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc
Re: HP 530 Notebook recovery disc
I really hate to appear stupid but I don't understand if I should open or save files. I am using my new desk top and it is running windows 8 and it keeps trying to change to vista . I printed copies of instructions but I'm confused Thanks for your help but I'm wondering if I could just buy windows 7 and install it or buy new computer any thoughts?
- HP PCs Forgot the Sign-in Password (Windows 10)
- Downloading or Updating Software and Drivers for HP Computers
- HP PCs - Sleep and Hibernate Issues (Windows 10, 8)
- HP Notebook PCs - Overview of Recovering or Reinstalling the Operating System (Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP)
- HP PCs - Updating Drivers and Software with Windows Update (Windows 10, 8)


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I'm testing Subscribe2. In the HTML outgoing mail sent to a registered user, the embedded YouTube video appears as a black square. And the square itself is not clickable and there is no indication there is a video there to look at.
Is there a setting or something to make this work?


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Wake up with breathtaking views of Bur Dubai in our Executive Suites which are situated on the 5th floor of the hotel. Over the vast 100 sqm they offer a king-size bed, a living room and a dining table.
Free access to the Executive Lounge is available and includes complimentary coffee, tea, breakfast, and free high speed Internet access. Alcoholic beverages and snacks are also provided on a complimentary basis from 6.00pm to 8.00 pm. Enjoy complimentary one way airport transfer to all Dubai international airport terminals ( pick-up or drop-off) and Late check-out to 2pm.
All of our Suites are equipped with 60 inch LCD TVs, individually controlled air-conditioning, tea and coffee making facilities and a bathroom with combined bathtub and shower in addition to eco-friendly bathroom amenities. A minibar that includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is also provided.
The Executive Suite can accommodate a maximum of two persons. However, an extra bed is available for an additional fee. This room is non smoking.
- Air conditioning controlled in room
- Interconnecting rooms
- In-room safe
- Free high speed Internet access
- National and international TV channels
- Working desk
- King bed
- Dining table and chairs
- Sitting area
- Non-smoking suite
- Iron and ironing board
- Feather and hypoallergenic pillows available
- Coffee and tea maker
- Bathrobe and slippers
- Hairdryer
- Minibar
- Pool & gym access
- Sauna & steam room access (Located in the Apartments)


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Everywhere I go on google I get the same answer to this problem but it is the wrong answer for me. Originally I installed Subversion 1.5.6 for windows (i run Windows Server 2008) on my server and i made a repository for a project. Then I used a Tortoise client version 1.6.X on my laptop to update the project. Everything was hunky-dory until I tried to use a post-commit hook script (i am updating folders in wwwroot on commit to reflect changes on a web page). I got a message to the effect of "This client is too old to work with working copy 'XXX'".
So I uninstalled the SVN client on my laptop and removed the repository from the server. I then made a new repository on the server from scratch and installed TortoiseSVN version 1.5.6 thinking if the client version is the same as the Subversion on the server then they should play nice. After i downloaded the repository on my laptop again and reinstalled my hook script I get the same message...
It is quite painstaking and disruptive to have to keep obliterating my repositories and reinstalling my client to find ones that co-operate through trial and error. I see no reason (and can find none online) as to why the repository would argue if both TortoiseSVN and my server Subversion are both 1.5.6.
Is there anyone out there that can give some insight as to why I would be getting this message? Perhaps even someone who could let me know what version of TortoiseSVN I need to use in order for my Server SVN 1.5.6 to not complain. My hook script works from the command line on my server so I know it's not it's fault. Thanks in advance.


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Korean Air Chases Premium Flyers With Low-Density A380
Korean Air Lines Co.'s fleet of Airbus SAS A380 superjumbos will have the lowest seating density of any operator to date as the Asian carrier seeks to lure top-end travelers on inter-continental routes.
The planes will be fitted with 400 to 450 seats, leaving space for "plenty of snazzy features," spokesman James Sanderson said in London. He declined to provide details, beyond saying that the design includes lounges for premium passengers.
Qantas Airways Ltd. has the lowest-density layout among the five carriers that currently operate the superjumbo, with 450 seats, though the Australian company's next batch will have either a smaller first-class cabin and 490 seats or none at all, boosting capacity to 550 people. Air France's planes have the most berths at 538, while Deutsche Lufthansa AG offers 526, Dubai-based Emirates 489 and Singapore Airlines Ltd. 471.
Korean Air will take delivery of five superjumbos next year, Sanderson said in the interview, adding that the total has been confirmed by Airbus. Five more planes will follow over the next two years. Most routes will be across the Pacific, he said.
The Seoul-based company was initially scheduled to receive the A380 from 2008 before Airbus suffered a succession of production delays.
Tokyo-based Skymark Airlines Inc. has said it intends to operate A380s with 394 seats, including 114 in business class. The carrier expects to receive its first superjumbo in 2014, President Shinichi Nishikubo said last month.
'Real Luxury'
Korean Air plans to become a "real luxury carrier," deriving 50 percent of passenger sales from premium classes by 2019 as it challenges Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., President Chi Chang Hoon said July 20.
Business and first-class cabins accounted for about 20 percent of passenger revenue last year.
Features already incorporated by A380 operators include showers on some Emirates planes, bar areas for premium Lufthansa customers and enclosed first-class cabins on Singapore Airlines.
Airbus will take delivery of one of the engines for the first Korean Air A380 on Dec. 7. Handover of the plane is due in May. The GP7200 turbine is the 100th to be shipped by the Engine Alliance of General Electric Co. and Pratt & Whitney, which competes with Rolls-Royce Group Plc to power the superjumbo.
Australia's aviation regulator has asked U.K.-based Rolls to address "critical safety issues" with its Trent 900 model after one of its engines blew up last month on a Qantas A380.


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CINCINNATI, Oct. 4 -- Joey Votto's two hits and three RBI Saturday led Cincinnati to an 8-4 victory over Pittsburgh.
Darnell McDonald had two hits and one RBI.
Scott Rolen hit a solo homer and scored twice.
A run scored on Jason Jaramillo's fourth-inning passed ball, while Ramon Hernandez added two hits for the Reds, who had lost two in a row.
The winner was starter Johnny Cueto (11-11).
Pittsburgh's Delwyn Young had three hits -- one a three-run sixth-inning homer.
Andy LaRoche hit an RBI double for the Pirates, who had only six hits and had their three-game winning streak stopped.
The losing pitcher was starter Zach Duke (11-16).
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
Cincinnati, Sept. 29: Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer and a two-run homer Tuesday to power the Cincinnati Reds in a 7-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Joey Votto added a solo homer as the Reds won for the seventh time in eight games and sent the National League Central Division champions to their fourth loss in five games.
Winning pitcher Homer Bailey (7-5) gave up seven hits and a run while striking out seven over seven innings.
Losing pitcher Joel Pineiro (15-12) allowed seven runs and eight hits and seven runs over six innings.
Albert Pujols drove in a run for St. Louis for his 133rd RBI this season. David Freese hit his first career home run.
New York -- Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was named the National League Player of the Week Monday.
Votto, 26, had a Major League-best 14 hits, including 10 doubles, and 11 runs scored in six games last week. He became the first player to hit 10 doubles in a five-game span in a single season since Hall of Famer Paul Waner did it for Pittsburgh in 1932.
Votto had eight RBI, an NL-leading 1.080 slugging percentage, and a .593 on-base percentage during the period. For the season, he is hitting .318 with 23 home runs and 80 RBI.
Houston, Sept. 26: Joey Votto drove in four runs and Cincinnati roughed up Houston for 17 hits Friday en route to a 10-4 drubbing of the Astros.
Votto hit a solo homer in the first, his 23rd of the year, and climaxed a five-run second with a three-run double.
Jay Bruce tacked on a solo homer in the fifth, helping boost the Reds to their fifth straight victory. At one point in late August, the Reds were 20 games below .500. Their current winning streak has brought them within eight games of the break-even mark.
Matt Maloney (2-4) took advantage of the offensive onslaught to get the win. He allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings.
Pittsburgh -- Joey Votto's two-run double in a four-run third inning Thursday boosted Cincinnati to a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh, capping a three-game sweep.
Votto's two-out double gave Cincinnati a 3-0 lead in the top of the third.
Brandon Phillips and Drew Sutton also drove in runs for the Reds, who made the most of seven hits, winning for the eighth time in their last nine games.
Winner Bronson Arroyo (14-13) surrendered a run and five hits in seven innings. He lost his shutout when Lastings Milledge hit a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh.
Closer Francisco Cordero earned his 39th save after giving up two hits and a walk in the bottom of the ninth.
Six others had one hit for the Pirates, who have lost six in a row.
Pittsburgh, Sept. 23 -- Joey Votto had four of Cincinnati's 14 hits Wednesday and five players drove in two runs each in carrying the Reds to a 12-2 romp over Pittsburgh.
Votto touched off a three-run third with an RBI double and the Reds broke things open with a four-run fifth that featured a two-run single by Jay Bruce. Votto scored one of his three runs on Bruce's base hit.
Cincinnati won its third straight and Pittsburgh has lost five in a row. The Pirates, on their way to a third straight last-place finish in the National League Central, have dropped 22 of their last 25 games.
Homer Bailey (6-5) picked up the easy win by going six innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Kevin Hart (8-8) surrendered eight runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.
Pittsburgh, Sept. 22: Scott Rolen had three hits, three RBI and two runs scored Tuesday to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds scored five runs in the fifth inning. Brandon Phillips drove in two runs and scored once and Joey Votto had three hits and scored three runs for the Reds.
Johnny Cueto (10-10) gave up two runs on nine hits in five innings for the win.
Zach Duke (10-15) took the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits in six innings.
Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI, Ronny Cedeno, and Robinzon Diaz each had an RBI, and Lastings Milledge went 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Joey Votto scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the seventh Wednesday and Cincinnati overcame a Houston home run barrage to down the Astros 6-5.
All Houston's runs came on solo homers, which gave the Astros a 5-4 lead through five innings.
Drew Stubbs then singled home Wladimir Balentien with the tying run in the sixth and the Reds took the lead in the seventh, thanks to a gift from Jeff Fulchino.
Votto led off the seventh with a single and moved to third on a base hit by Brandon Phillips.
Fulchino then came in to relieve Wesley Wright and promptly uncorked the wild pitch that brought home what turned out to be the winning run.
Denver, Sept. 9: Jason Marquis turned in a solid start and Eric Young hit a solo home run for Colorado in the Rockies' 3-1 win over Cincinnati Tuesday.
Marquis (15-10) limited the Reds to one run on four hits and struck out seven in 7 1/3 innings to match his career high for wins and carry the Rockies to their seventh win in eight games.
Young went 2-for-3 and scored two runs. Todd Helton and Carlos Gonzalez each drove in a run on sacrifice flies.
Matt Maloney (0-4) took the loss despite giving up one run on four hits.
Joey Votto drove in Cincinnati's only run in the eighth on a groundout with runners on second and third.
Atlanta-- Joey Votto's two-run homer and one-hit scoreless pitching by Kip Wells Saturday carried Cincinnati to a 3-1 win over Atlanta.
The victory gave Cincinnati a six-game winning streak.
Votto's homer, his 21st, gave Cincinnati a 2-0 lead with one out in the top of the sixth.
Scott Rolen capped a three-run inning with an RBI single, only the fourth hit for the Reds, who have won 12 of their last 14 games.
Wells (1-3) walked four batters, struck out four, and the only hit he surrendered was a lead-off single by Garret Anderson in the bottom of the second.
Closer Francisco Cordero earned his 32nd save despite a walk and a hit in the bottom of the ninth.
Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on themoneytimes.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. TheMoneyTimes advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decision.
©2004-2010 All Rights Reserved


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Autism/Learning and Developmental Disabilities
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 718.430.3101
Fox News Health interviews Sophie Molholm, Ph.D., regarding her research on sensory processing disorder. Dr. Molholm is director of the Tishman Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, associate director of the Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, associate professor in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, and the Muriel and Harold Block Faculty Scholar in Mental Illness in the department of pediatrics.
The Washington Post interviews Snehal Patel, M.D., about his study that found eliminating a blood test could safely increase the number of donor hearts for transplants. Dr. Patel is assistant professor of medicine at Einstein and attending physician at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care.


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Just at the time when a deal between Reliance Communication and South African major MTN are searching for a possibility to have a deal between them, the two governments had made it clear that they will not interfere at all in the matters of the two companies.
This was stated by Rob Davis, minister of trade and commerce, Republic of South Africa on the sidelines of a Confederation of Indian Industries' session. He said that both the governments will let the two companies work freely over the deal as far as they fulfill regulatory requirements.
Indian cabinet minister of commerce and industry, Anand Sharma also have expressed similar view saying, "We can't change regulation for one deal. It has implications on a universe of other things. Other than that, we will support decisions made by individual companies."
« Michelle Obama Vogue Magazine Dec. 2010 Cover Girl? Taylor Swift Hosting 13-Hour Meet & Greet With Fans CMA Music Festival »


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'I drive the Batmobile'
If you are thinking about buying a new car, you may be interested to learn that a Batmobile is available on the market.
The car comes with the 'POW' and 'BAM' factor, flashing lights, a parachute and rockets.
Mark Perkins owns a similar Batmobile and tells BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast's Shelagh Fogarty what sort of reactions he gets.
You can listen to the full interview on theBBC Radio 5 live website.


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Keep a healthy heart and protect yourself from stroke, heart attacks and kidney disease.
If staying healthy is important to you, no doubt having a healthy heart is too. Cardiovascular disease can cause not only heart attacks, but stroke, kidney disease, eye disease and circulatory problems. Find out how to keep your heart healthy, and make sure you're around for a long time, not just a good time.
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If confusion about heart health is raising your blood pressure, let our experts clear things up. They love to advise on matters of the heart – mostly of the cardiovascular nature, but you can take their romantic guidance at your own risk.
Karina Bray
Senior content producer - Health
Diet and fitness, Healthy ageing, Hospitals and medical procedures, Health practitioners, Conditions, Nutrition
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text: Zhaka Mu 38,240pages on this wiki Edit History Talk0 This is the sanctum of evil.but only in darkness will the final demon reveal himself. Other its true form is similar to Chernabog. Add a photo to this gallery Retrieved from "http://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Zhaka_Mu?oldid=456071" Categories: Demon Dark Lord Video Game Villains Final Boss


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New Street Fighter IV Characters Unveiled
Chun-Li, Guile and four more confirmed playable at Japan's AOU expo.
Street Fighter II fans will be pleased to know that in general, the returning characters' design remains unchanged, although their character art is in line with the grainier, more muscular look shown in other Street Fighter IV art.
The public will be able to get its hands on the game for the first time at Japan's AOU Amusement Expo on February 16th.
Producer Yoshinori Ono revealed further details about the game itself: all the core fighters from Street Fighter II will be making a return, and newcomer Crimson Viper will be selectable from the get-go. As for the fighting system itself, three gauges appear on screen: one is a health meter, the second a combo meter, and the third a mysterious new meter for "making miraculous comebacks."
Street Fighter IV will introduce a "saving attack" system. How it works is still unclear, but screenshots in the magazine show Ryu landing a massive punch on Ken right in the middle of stopping his hadoken. More information about the "ultra combos" also came to light: they will be even more spectacular than super combos, but you have to meet certain conditions before you can use them.
See Also
Comments (23)
Wow.Posted: Feb 11, 2008 12:00AM PST by Hypervega
I hate it when gamers can't appreciate what's in front of them. Taking things for granted should be a sin if it's not. It's Street Fighter people. Other than the live action movie and game tie in, has it ever let us down? No, it's the greatest fighter in history for a reason. It's set the bar for all other fighters every time it's even mentioned. Um......yeah, get over it. Really.
Well.....Posted: Feb 11, 2008 12:00AM PST by ScrewattackNY
I think there trying to go with the cel shaded look for this game...if they do it right it could work.
I agree about the art stylePosted: Feb 09, 2008 12:00AM PST by asusimpreza
I can see that they are trying to get back to basics (SF2) in the artstyle. But going backwards in style and then moving up to 3D doesn't seem like such a hot idea.
@ BlazingAeroPosted: Feb 08, 2008 12:00AM PST by Nightmare_Omega
Yeah, you said it. No news here.
"New" SF IV Characters?Posted: Feb 07, 2008 12:00AM PST by BlazingAero
The only new one is the Crimson Viper chick, whom was announced weeks ago. We were all expecting the original 8 World Warriors. So where's the news?
Old NewsPosted: Feb 07, 2008 12:00AM PST by bass_to_treble
Did it take that long for 1up.com to find this news on the internet? This was out a month ago.
Umm..Posted: Feb 06, 2008 12:00AM PST by Frylock9000
Wasnt Akuma confirmed as well? Or am I just hoping too much =/
Re: Mr_lugaPosted: Feb 06, 2008 12:00AM PST by Ebag_Nimajneb
The pics where in another story as well. You can see them here: http://www.1up.com/do/media?cId=3163673&sec=IMAGES
Looks awesomePosted: Feb 06, 2008 12:00AM PST by Duo_forbidden
I love the cel shade designs of each characters.
Looking good.Posted: Feb 06, 2008 12:00AM PST by Chainblast
There's something appealing about Street Fighter 4 and I'm hoping for a console announcement soon. Considering arcades are few and far between around here these days.
Old is In!Posted: Feb 06, 2008 12:00AM PST by Redunited07
Grant it I love the old character but for me its more about the news characters! Thou, Ryu is still the man! Capcom make sure to bring Dan for this SF game!
I've seen the scansPosted: Feb 06, 2008 12:00AM PST by Vincent007
and they all look great. The only thing that bugged me was Guile's hair in the in-game screen. I really hope Cammy makes it into the game! 2 more characters will be revealed on the SF4 Japanese site on Friday!


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Easily and instantly learn up to 31 collegiate vocabulary terms and their definitions for free. Southside Solutions Word of the Day MX Lite is the free counterpart it to its commercial brethren Southside Solutions Word of the Day MX which ships with a years' worth, read 366, terms and definitions. Also includes a multiple choice vocabulary trivia game, not just a list of words and definitions.More
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September 24, 20079:11 am 7 Comments
Geraldo Rivera, his mustache, Chris Kulawik, and serious-guy-with-beard (who is apparently Kulawik's shadow), all made an appearance on Fox News.
Tags: ahmadinejad, chris kulawik, fox news
September 24, 20078:34 am 6 Comments
Chris Kulawik addresses reporters this morning outside the 116th St. gates.
The way he's holding his hands makes it look like he's sitting atop a bicycle.*
*Unconfirmed at press time
Tags: ahmadinejad, bicycles, chris kulawik
September 18, 20079:19 am 31 Comments
The National Review, which in Spec-speak is like the "Chris Shrugged" of right-wing rags, ("William F. Buckley Shrugged"?), has anointed Chris Kulawik as the paradigm of all that's right with the current state of discourse about the Middle East. The problem, natch, is Fulbright-winning, Ph.D. holding professor Juan Cole, who is just ruining everything with his big ideas and his big words.
…and speaking of trouble with the Middle East, Sammy's Halal has disappeared from the corner of 111th and Broadway! The Hungry Lion (who prefers to keep his identity a secret) is on the case. Which is good because he's a student, and not someone who's studied Sammy's Halal for decades or anything and has written books about it and teaches a class about it at an Ivy League university.
– JNW shrugged
April 15, 20076:27 pm 129 Comments
Check newsstands tomorrow, and you'll see something familiar: a shiny New York Magazine cover story digesting the last 40 years of crazy activism at Columbia, featuring glamour shots of David Judd, Chris Kulawik, Karina Garcia and a smattering of other rabblerousers. Take a seat, because it's a doozy, reaching back to the SDS protests of the 60s, racing through Minutemen, and parsing every protest and meeting since then for a larger point about College and the Left (it is New York Mag, after all).
Here are the takeaway points, in case you're too mired in papers to read the whole thing: Radical kids today don't have the energy of Mark Rudd & Co. Career-oriented Democrats don't have the energy of the radicals. Kulawik doesn't need energy, because he's got skillz. Columbia has historically been riven by identity politics–mostly around Israel-Palestine–but now the lines are starting to blur.
Well, now everyone else knows.
February 20, 200710:50 am 39 Comments
The CCSC gossip has been flowing like cheap wine at Columbia Cottage. For your edification:
Item #1: Chris Kulawik may have come closer to a CCSC run than anyone realized. As George Krebs struggled to put together a ticket, he received feelers from Kulawik's associates to see if he was interested in joining a Kulawik ticket. Krebs is associated with the College Dems; Kulawik, of course, with the Republicans. Krebs turned him down, and faced with a limited timeframe, Kulawik decided not to file.
Item # 2: File Felipe Tarud in the long list of candidates who claim that higher-ups in CCSC urged them to run. Tarud, who won't say which individuals wanted a candidate to oppose Michelle, considered it, but bowed out as he realized other candidates were interested were running and performing what he called a "cost-benefit analysis."
Ever more whispers from the SGO after the jump!
Tags: ccsc, chris kulawik, Decision 2007, elections, george krebs, gossip, politics, so much drama
January 24, 20077:15 am 17 Comments
Left Wing Jihadist scores funds!
Spec dreads us having to "likely spend more money on better fakes"
Oh, you didn't know? Yo' ass better caaallll somebodyyy!
Man, I forgot how good Giuliani was. Maybe we should have let him cancel that election.
October 12, 20069:37 am 11 Comments
In which Bwog gives you a digest of the crazy crazy fallout of the events of October 4th.
Item # 1: Columbia students recieved PrezBo's latest statement on the Minutemen protest earlier today. But you couldn't tell really, since he never said "Minutemen" or "protest"–although Bwog thinks that's what he meant by "disruption."
Item # 2: The Engineering Student Council and Student Governing Board have gotten in on the statement game, too, reprinted after the jump. That leaves the Democrats and the Equestrian Team as the only ones still silent.
Item # 3: The College Republicans are mad. They're mad because people are mad at them–and this after they took their profiles down from the GOP site because of hate mail. According to Kulawik, the CRs submitted the list of outside RSVPs to their Shoebat event after registration closed at 5:00 PM on Tuesday. Chaplain Davis told informed the group yesterday afternoon, eight hours before the event, that their 115-person guest list (composed mostly of local Republicans, Shoebat's friends, and people who responded to conservative blog plugs) had been cut down to five, which the CRs argued back up to 20. Midafternoon, e-mails went out to the confirmed RSVPs–some on the bus from as far away as Boston and Pennsylvania–saying that they were no longer invited.
"If wanted to bring my parents that evening, the University chaplain would not let them in," grumbled Kulawik. "It was one of the most unprofessional things I'd ever seen."
Columbia Public Affairs, in a statement released to Bwog at 11:15 this morning, tells it like this: "Wednesday at midday University officials communicated to the student groups that it was unreasonable to present a guest list of some 115 non-CUID holders not known by students for an event that was proposed and approved as a Columbia student event. As it has done on previous occasions, including the Norman Finkelstein lecture last year, University officials limited the number of outside guests to a reasonable number — in this case to 20.
Nevertheless, of the 20 names on the final list presented to the University, only six actually showed up for the event. Additionally, speakers showed up with other guests who never appeared on any list presented to the University. Approximately a half-dozen non-CUID holders were not permitted to enter."
According to a Bwog source, the adminsitration tried to pull a similar thing last year at the Finkelstein event, but gave in when the speaker threatened to cancel, and ultimately about 180 non-CUID holders were admitted. Practical? Maybe. Incompetent? You be the judge.
Thanks to Maryam Parhizkar for the photo.
October 11, 200611:54 am 0 Comments
This post has been removed at the request of the interviewee.
Tags: beyondism, c4, chris kulawik, college republicans, minutemen
October 10, 200612:00 pm 76 Comments
We know who Walid Shoebat is. We know who Baruch Goldstein is. And heck, we even know who Chris Kulawik is.
But who's V47? Bwog commandeth: reveal thyself!
Tags: chris kulawik, minutemen, signage
October 10, 20069:50 am 68 Comments
News is coming hot and heavy these days on fallout from October 4th (Bwog's new name for the Minuteman Protest), so we thought we'd do a little digest on the latest.
Item # 1: The Republicans are going ahead with their event Wednesday evening featuring ex-PLO jihadist Walid Shoebat, along with a former Lebanese terrorist and a member of the Hitler Youth. The headliner–whom Princeton didn't even allow to speak–may even be more wacko than Gilchrist, and this time, they're not taking any chances. If you want to go, RSVP soon at the CU GOP website, where you may reserve and print out one (1) ticket in advance–but you might be lonely. Chabad brought Shoebat to Columbia in 2004, but this time around Hillel hasn't even put it on their online calendar, and word is that other student groups are planning on boycotting the event entirely. "We want pretty pictures of empty chairs," said one Bwog source. "Forty people attend, and the thing collapses."
Item # 2: We're not sure where Karina Garcia is getting the 3,000 figure for letters sent to PrezBo in support of the protesters–University Spokesman Robert Hornsby couldn't confirm the number. Then again, he also wouldn't answer any of Bwog's other five questions, saying only that the administration "will make no further comment at this time." Ah, stonewalling.
Item # 3: Even though YouTube has gone corporate, they're still providing us with lots of fun new video. Here's what we've found:
Lou Dobbs to CU: "You ought to be ashamed." Can't you see the breastbeating?
CTV National Media analysis: We RULE.
Protesters on CTV: All about the message, baby.
Finally, Dols v. Kulawik on Fox
Item # 4: Statements by World Can't Wait and the Working Families Party after the jump.
October 07, 200610:48 am 14 Comments
After leaving the Minuteman Protest, Bwog sat down and e-mailed all the adminstrators it could think of for interviews. Chaplain Jewelnel Davis, who runs Earl Hall, responded via Blackberry at 6:30 AM the next morning. She and SGB program managers Jane Huber and Raquel Whittaker speak about protesting, free speech, and the swinging sixties.
When the idea to have Jim Gilchrist came up, what were your thoughts around that?
Chaplain Davis: We know that Columbia, at its very best, must be a place where free speech is affirmed and central, not only in the classrooms must there be a vigiorous exchange of ideas, but also if they have issues that their groups want to focus on, we are delighted for students to proposed events and propose speakers that will allow students first hand experience of what the issues are that face them as young people, and as citizens not only of Columbia, but of New York, of the region, of the country, of the world.
If you're going to have a speaker and have a question and answer session. You're at Columbia. If you want something to have a significant contribution to the Columbia Community, you make sure that there's a Question and Answer period.
In this case, for example, the speakers were scheduled to speak for 45 minutes, and then followed by a 45 minute question and answer period. Raquel and Jane had worked carefully and well with Chris Kulawik to make sure that the issues the College Republicans wanted to be heard, issues of immigration, were coming out. So it's not whether you read the newspaper, whether you've filtered through the television media, but no, you could say I was actually there with the people who were making the news that other people are reporting on.
At Columbia, you get to say I was there. The Minutemen are part of the national conversation about immigration, especially on the southern border of the United States, and the College Republicans wanted students to hear from them, and to interrogate. There were no bars on what the questions were going to be. There were no questions that were predetermined that could not be asked. The College Republicans made no effort to do that. (more…)
Tags: activism, chris kulawik, minutemen, sgb, tolerance
October 06, 20061:31 pm 45 Comments
Supposedly Www.Bwog.net will run across the bottom of screen, which means that the site may crash, so don't panic if you can't find us for awhile. We're trying to figure out how to prevent that from happening… but what a way to go.
Tags: chris kulawik, meta, minutemen
October 05, 20069:56 pm 33 Comments
He's not as famous as Chris "I love Sean Hannity" Kulawik at this point, but Student Governing Board President Sakib Khan–who oversees all political, religious, and cultural groups–outranks him and every other student leader on this campus. Bwog caught up with Khan in the hours following the Minuteman Brawl, racing to scribble down his informed commentary.
Although he helped the Republicans to regain control of last night's incident, Khan is skeptical of the wisdom of the speaker choice. "It is not my feeling that this event accomplished the goal of Chris or the Republicans," he said, calling the speech "non-functional programming."
Worse, the reaction may impact the ability of student groups to bring speakers to campus. "I have a serious feeling that the future of student programming may be in jeopardy after this." Although SGB neither approves nor disapproves student groups' choice of speakers, Khan said his board would consider advising the Republicans to pick someone with a less polarizing podium manner. On the flip side, Khan was disturbed by the reaction of audience members, and believes that the governing boards have an obligation to promote reasoned debate on campus. "Ironically, they were doing the vigilante role of public safety," he observed.
Administrators have been largely silent on fallout from the protests while they figure out what's going on, and often differ in their approaches to conflict: a few favor academic freedom at all costs, while a more pragmatic faction would rather avoid bad press in the middle of a $4 billion capital campaign. Khan, however, fears that the actions they take could make things difficult for the individuals and groups involved. "There's a clear bright line between the protest outside and the protest inside," he said. "I'm afraid that the administration is going to blur that line."
Tags: chris kulawik, college republicans, minutemen, sakib khan, sgb
October 05, 20067:39 pm 38 Comments
Chris Kulawik's cheerful visage graced Fox News' Hannity and Colmes this evening. While expressing shame at being a member of the Columbia community, he appeared the picture of moderation next to Minuteman Founder Jim Gilchrist, who called protesters the "anarcho-fascists" and the "21st century KKK," noting that he would have given the protesters a "Minuteman knuckle sandwich."
"They are domestic terrorists," he said, his eyes wide. "Their goal is to disrupt and deprive everyone of the first amendment except for themselves."
The video of Bill O'Reilly's take on the events from tonight's O'Reilly Factor is on the Fox News site now, and Bwog's got the footage of the Hannity and Colmes segment below… Ok, yes, we did tape a television screen. Silly Columbia TVs don't have "video out" holes! It's the sound that matters, really…
Meanwhile, in our self-Googling, we came up with this gem:
"Special honorary mention, also, to the courageous young journalists at BWOG who unflinchingly told the tale of the brave young jihadis who sought to protect the warriors of Islam from the vigilante infidels of the Minuteman Project."
It's nice to be appreciated?
Tags: bill o'reilly, chris kulawik, fox news, jihad, minutemen
October 05, 20062:15 pm 39 Comments
Update 7:00 PM: Bwog has confirmed that Kulawik will appear at 9:00 tonight on Fox News' Hannity and Colmes with Minuteman founder Jim Gilchrist, while opening speaker Marvin Stewart will appear on the Bill O'Reilly Factor at 8:00 and 11:00 PM. Protesters were asked to appear on The Factor, and one accepted, but declined shortly before the taping.
Campus, city and national media have already spun the Minuteman Brawl of 2006 into a harbinger for Armageddon, and Bwog would like to level the conversation a bit. We'll start with the source, President of the College Republicans (ex-College Conservatives President) Chris Kulawik himself. In an early morning interview, he told Bwog why controversy follows him everywhere, what he saw, and why he brought members of a vigilante border patrol to campus in the first place.
Over the summer, the Republicans sent out about 40 invitations to different potential speakers and elected representatives. Kulawik said the invitations "got a pretty decent return rate," and Gilchrist and Stewart got invites because
In anticipation of student reaction, he forwarded a link to the 600+ member Facebook group protesting the Minutemen to Public Safety, which he said must not have predicted the extent to which the event would escalate. "In the wake of Ashcroft, the ISA, protesters, and Chicano Caucus were better prepared to mobilize," Kulawik said.
When the rumble broke out, "It was really hectic up there," he said. "I can't tell you how scared I was…The [protesters] were looking for a fight…I really felt that my personal being was in danger… they literally staged a premeditated attack."
After the event, Kulawik called an emergency College Republicans executive board meeting and said administrators also had a huge closed door meeting. As of 9:00 this morning, he had not yet had any communication with administrators.
He noted being "concerned" about future speakers deciding not to come to campus, and said he was worried the event would keep others from joining the College Republicans.
"Not only does it set back the university, it sets back the movement of mature debate."
As for the Minutemen themselves, Jim and Marvin "were really quite upset…I think they really feel bad for my organization and my friends."
Kulawik also had some warm praise for the conduct of the Minutemen supporters (one of whom was witnessed kicking a student in the face.) "They refused to let protestors drown them out in a forum of debate…they ran out to defend Jim and Martin."
And he maintains the speakers at last night's circus "opened some eyes. When people have different ideas, people don't want to listen to them."
Kulawik says he still plans on running next week's event which will feature Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist who now speaks out for
Tags: chris kulawik, minutemen
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