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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Dec 15, 2009
|Filing date
|May 22, 2006
|Priority date
|Nov 22, 2000
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Susan A. Wood, Heidi Zhang, Anat Caspi, Takeshi Doi, Harlan M. Romsdahl
|Original Assignee
|Mevis Medical Solutions, Inc.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (16), Referenced by (13), Classifications (47), Legal Events (7)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/261,183 filed Sep. 30, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,072,501 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/990,511, filed Nov. 21, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,925,200. Application Ser. No. 09/990,511 claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/314,582, filed Aug. 24, 2001, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/252,743, filed Nov. 22, 2000.
Related applications are:
"Density Nodule Detection in 3-Dimensional Medical Images," application Ser. No. 09/993,792, filed Nov. 23, 2001;
"Method and System for the Display of Regions of Interest in Medical Images," application Ser. No. 09/990,508, filed Nov. 21, 2001;
"Region Growing in Anatomical Images," application Ser. No. 09/993,791, filed Nov. 23, 2001;
"Automated Registration of 3-D Medical Scans of Similar Anatomical Structures," application Ser. No. 09/993,790, filed Nov. 23, 2001;
"Lung Field Segmentation from CT Thoracic Images," application Ser. No. 09/993,793, filed Nov. 23, 2001;
"Pleural Nodule Detection from CT Thoracic Images," application Ser. No. 09/993,789, filed Nov. 23, 2001;
"Region Growing in Anatomical Images," application Ser. No. 10/261,182, filed concurrently herewith;
"Segmentation in Medical Images," application Ser. No. 10/261,196, filed concurrently herewith; and
"Detection and Analysis of Lesions in Contact with a Structural Boundary," application Ser. No. 10/261,184, filed concurrently herewith.
This relates to a system for rendering anatomical information. It is particularly useful in the display of computer tomographic information and will be described in that context.
In conventional x-ray systems, a beam of x-rays is directed through an object such as the human body onto a flat x-ray photographic film. The beam of x-rays is selectively absorbed by structures within the object, such as bones within the human body. Since the exposure of the x-ray film varies directly with the transmission of x-rays through the body (and varies inversely with the absorption of x-rays), the image that is produced provides an accurate indication of any structures within the object that absorbed the x-rays. As a result, x-rays have been widely used for non-invasive examination of the interior of objects and have been especially useful in the practice of medicine.
Unfortunately, conventional x-ray systems have their limitations. The image that is formed from the x-ray is basically the shadow of the structures within the object that absorb the x-rays. As a result, the image formed on the x-ray is only two-dimensional, and if multiple x-ray absorbing structures lie in the same shadow, information about some of these structures is likely to be obscured. Moreover, in the case of medical applications, it is often quite difficult to use conventional x-ray systems to examine portions of the body such as the lungs that consist mostly of air when inflated and do not absorb x-rays significantly.
Many of the limitations of conventional x-ray systems are avoided by x-ray computer tomography, which is often referred to as CT. In particular, CT provides three-dimensional views and the imaging of structures and features that are unlikely to be seen very well in a conventional x-ray.
A typical CT apparatus 100 for medical applications is shown in
How this image is generated will be more readily apparent from the simplified explanation of
In practice, x-rays are emitted continuously for the full 360� around the patient and numerous features are observed but the overall approach is generally the same.
While the patient remains motionless, the platform is moved along the longitudinal axis through the toroidal structure. In the course of this movement, x-ray exposures are continuously made of the portion of the patient on which CT is to be performed. Since the table is moving during this process, the different x-ray exposures are exposures of different slices of the portion of the patient being examined and the images generated by the computer are a series of axial sections depicting in three dimensions the portion of the patient's body that is being examined. The spacing between adjacent CT sections depends on the minimum size of the features to be detected. For detection at the highest resolution, center-to-center spacing between adjacent sections should be on the order of less than 2 mm.
Because of the superior imaging capabilities of CT, the use of CT in medical imaging has grown rapidly in the last several years due to the emergence of multi-slice CT. However, the cost of conventional CT equipment remains quite high (an average selling price in the United States of $800,000 per unit) and the cost per patient far exceeds the cost of a conventional x-ray.
One application of medical CT is detection and confirmation of cancer. Unfortunately, in all too many cases, this application is merely to confirm the worst. By the time a patient has symptoms enough that warrant the use of CT, the cancer detected by CT has progressed to the point that the patient is almost certain to die of the cancer.
The diagnostically superior information now available in CT axial sections, especially that provided by multidetector CT (multiple slices acquired per single rotation of the gantry) where acquisition speed and volumetric resolution provide exquisite diagnostic value, however, enables the detection of potential cancers at the earliest and most treatable stage. For example, the minimum detectable size of a potentially cancerous nodule in an axial section of the lung is about 2 mm ( 1/10 of inch), a size that is potentially treatable and curable if detected. To intercept a developing cancer in the time between the point at which it first becomes detectable and treatable and the time when it has grown to the point where it is no longer treatable or treatment is pointless; it may become necessary to screen the population at risk on a regular basis. Presently, the standard of care is to find all cancer and potential cancers at their earliest indication. Finding a cost effective way to screen the population for lung cancer remains challenging.
While costs/benefits are such that it is prohibitive to screen the entire population for cancer, there are sub-populations that are at greater risk for cancer than others. One such population is that of present or former smokers. Other such populations are those with occupational exposures to known or suspected carcinogens. For these populations the cost/benefit ratio is such that the use of CT for screening purposes may well be warranted.
Tools that enhance the diagnostic value of the CT scans as well as enable the diagnostic determination by a radiologist in an economically reasonable time are required to assist the physician in the effort to detect cancer at its earliest and most curable stage. These tools are required whether the original examination was performed as a screening or non-screening study.
The present invention is a system for displaying anatomical information automatically detected by computer algorithms (computer-aided detection, or CAD), such anatomical information generated by tomographic scanning of the body (i.e., CT, MRI, ultrasound, PET). The CAD system provides for the display of detected objects in any selected viewport.
In a preferred embodiment, the system is responsive to system user inputs in various display portions of a user interface. For example, one portion of an interface renders, or displays, a sequence of tomographic sections, the particular section or sections being displayed at any time being selectable by a scroll bar or scroll buttons. An additional portion of the interface display renders a volumetric view of a body including an indication on the view of a position on the body corresponding to the tomographic section then being rendered, or displayed, on the first portion of the display. An additional portion of the display renders a volumetric view of a selected feature shown in the section then being rendered, or displayed, on the first portion of the display. The portions are designed to optimize the speed and accuracy with which the end user can diagnose the case. Optimization results from the mapping of the volumetric information, inherent to understanding the structure and function of a region under review, to the normal two-dimensional, axial reading paradigm currently used by the radiologists reviewing these types of case sets. Also inherent to this optimization is that an automatically-detected portion of the system is mapped in all portion views.
The invention also includes the method of providing such a graphical user interface.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following Detailed Description of the Invention in which:
Memory 320 typically is a mixture of semiconductor random access memory (RAM), one or more hard disk drives and/or CD-ROM drives, perhaps a floppy drive, and one or more tape drives. Stored within memory 320 are an operating system, application programs and the data representative of one or more series of CT (or other three-dimensional datasets like MRI, ultrasound, PET) sections of one or more patients. Each series of CT sections is referred to as a case. A complete case might have 200 or more CT sections to provide a high resolution three-dimensional representation of a portion of the body as large as the thorax. Advantageously, several such cases are available in memory 320 and can be selected by the physician for examination.
The preferred display system provides for the display of any one or more of the three display portions and enables the user to toggle on-off any of the display portions. In the event any display portion is not shown, the remaining display portions may be re-sized. Accordingly, while
Any type of digital or digitized image (CT, MRI, US, SPECT, PET) is amenable to the processing and rendering of images and views of any organ system. The tomographic sections to be processed, rendered, displayed or otherwise used includes tomographic sections acquired through any plane, including, without limitation, saggital, coronal and axial (or horizontal, transverse) planes and including planes at various angles to the saggital, coronal or axial planes. While the disclosure may refer to a particular plane or section, such as an axial section or plane, it is to be understood that any reference to a particular plane is not necessarily intended to be limited to that particular plane, as the invention can apply to any plane or planar orientation. Additionally, the interface application disclosed herein enables interactive two-dimensional and three-dimensional rendering of an organ or organ system (including, without limitation, lung, heart, brain, spinal, colon, liver and kidney systems) which enables user interaction with the imagery. For illustrative purposes, a lung system is described.
In a preferred embodiment, the first display and second display are related to one another, for example, based on a common region of interest. As will be further discussed herein, one possible implementation of the inter-relationship of the first and second display is for the second display to use a horizontal line as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the display also includes a lesion navigator 540 (shown on the righthand side of
The CT sections display in a gray scale the regions of the body that have absorbed x-rays. In
Within the lungs are numerous gray flecks. For the most part, these flecks are sections of blood vessels within the lung that have absorbed sufficient x-rays to be visible in the gray scale image. These vessels can be identified by finding contiguously aligned flecks in adjacent axial sections and following such structures through the axial CT sections long enough to establish that they are indeed sections of blood vessels. Some flecks, however, may be cancerous nodules. These are generally recognizable by their globular shape and their isolation from the vesicular structures in the lung. Two such cancerous nodules are identified by circles, such as circles 541 and 542, in display 510.
In the prior art, a physician scans through a series of axial CT sections relying on visual memory to establish the connectivity of the vesicular structures and looking for the isolated flecks that may be sections of cancerous nodules. Typically, this type of scan is done in a minute or less. In view of the complexity of the structures present in the axial sections, it can be appreciated that this is a difficult task and one in which cancerous nodules can frequently be overlooked.
The display system can include markers or other graphic representations to assist the user in examination of the displays; and the image rendered in a first, second or third display can be controlled by the selection of a marker in a first, second or third display. For example, the second display may include one or more such markers highlighting and associated with various regions of the volumetric view; and a CT section associated with a marker selected in the second display may be rendered in the first display. Similarly, a rendering in the third display is preferably responsive to the selection of a marker from the first or second display.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, display 500 generates a variety of markers including highlighted markers 541, 542 and line segments on scroll bar 540. Such markers identify potential regions of interest as determined by image processing steps performed, for example, by processor unit 310 and are intended to direct the attention of qualified personnel to suspicious areas. In one preferred embodiment, the digital image in the first display, second display and/or third display will have marker(s) or other identifiers such as an asterisk (*), triangle or configurable circles (shown as 541, 542) superimposed on those locations corresponding to suspicious regions, detected automatically by computer or by the physician, and other markers or identifiers superimposed on other regions of interest wherein such other markers or identifiers are preferably visually different (e.g., different shape, size or color).
In the embodiment of the invention shown in
As an enhancement, further information may be provided by showing the evaluator exactly which pixels of the image are considered suspicious. For example, pixels of an image may be highlighted with a particular color, such as green or red, or shown white. In an embodiment of the invention, the display device may include a touch screen. In such an embodiment, the evaluator can select to view an area surrounding some highlighted pixels by simply touching the marker on the screen. The system then provides a close up view of the region with the highlighted pixels. Alternatively, the display device may be a cathode ray tube (CRT) connected to an input device such as a keyboard or mouse, and the input device may be used to command the system to provide a close up view and to highlight the suspicious pixels.
Experience has shown that there are situations where the further information provided by highlighted pixels is useful in reducing false positive indications sometimes called "false markers." Computer-aided detection codes use objective data which sometimes leads to these false markers and a possible waste of time for the evaluator. Using the present invention, however, the evaluator's time is much better used. By showing the evaluator exactly which pixels the computer algorithm considered suspicious, and immediately available to the user in 2-D and/or 3-D representations, she can more easily evaluate and dismiss false markers. Furthermore, the present invention allows the evaluator to more readily evaluate true markers corresponding to potentially malignant nodules.
Display 500 further includes an array 500 of software-controlled function buttons that is configurable by the user and typically includes most of the following: a load studies button 551, a window level button 552, a magnify glass button 553, a measurement button 554, a thick slice button 555, a nodule on button 556, a reset button 557 and an exit button 558. Additional buttons can be located on button tab 560 such as schedule button 561, review button 562 and reports button 563. Display 500 can be configured to have button functionality located in various locations, either as part of a tab display, such as button tab 560, or as part of array 550 of function buttons.
The load studies button allows a user to select and load a particular case into the system for viewing. The particular case information may include, without limitation, the patient's name, patient history, detailed patient information or other information related to a test procedure or diagnosis. Upon clicking on this button, a menu is displayed such as that depicted in
The drives display 640 allows the user to select a particular hard drive or floppy drive on which is located the data of interest. The folder display 620 displays the folders that are stored on the selected drive and allows the user to select the particular folder in which is located the data of interest. The file name display 610 displays the files (or cases) that are stored in a particular folder and allows the user to select one of these cases for display on display 370. File type display 630 allows the user to filter the files available in a folder.
The window level button 552 allows the user to change the brightness level and contrast level of the display. Clicking on this button activates the left button of the mouse. While the left button is depressed, the mouse or trackball can be moved in one direction so as to change the brightness level and in an orthogonal direction to change the contrast level.
Clicking on the magnify glass button 553 activates the left button of the mouse. While the left button is depressed, the computer magnifies the display where a mouse-controlled cursor is located as shown in
Upon clicking on the measurement button 554, the left mouse button is activated. While the left mouse button is depressed, the computer system will display the radio opacity at the region of the CT section where the cursor is located. The measurement button can enable various other functionality. For example, a measurement function can be activated by a click-and-drag activation wherein the cursor can be placed in the first display 510, second display 520 or third display 530, and when the mouse is clicked and held, the cursor can be dragged within the display and a measurement calculated representing the distance covered by the cursor within the display. Additionally, the measurement can be automated. For example, in the third display 530, measurement data such as nodule diameter, volume, average intensity level and maximum intensity level can be displayed as data 950 (
CT Number=(μmaterial−μwater)/μwater*1000 (HU)
where μ is the effective linear attenuation coefficient for the x-ray beam. The CT number scale is defined so that water has a value of 0 HU and air a value of minus 1000 HU.
As another example, intensity levels can be displayed in the third display 530 for a selected region 940. The intensity levels for the selected region may be displayed in the form of a histogram. Histogram information can be stored and used for statistical analysis for assessing whether calcification may be or has been occurring.
The nodule on button 556 toggles the nodule markers (e.g., white circles such as 541, 542, color coding or other devices to highlight individual nodules) on and off. Nodules can have circles of differing colors representative, for example, of whether a nodule has been considered, highlighted, or otherwise evaluated by a physician or other qualified personnel.
The reports button 563 captures the contents of the screen for direct input into a radiological report. Upon clicking on this button, the menu of
The reset button 557 resets all adjustments to the default values.
The exit button 558 terminates the program.
In one embodiment, a schedule button 561 provides a link to a pop-up window in which processing times can be scheduled. For example, in some cases it may be desirable to perform a CT scan but actually perform the nodule identification or other analysis at a later time. Delaying certain analysis can save patient time in running tests. In this way, screening of many patients can be done more quickly. Additionally, by scheduling batch processing at a later time, the interface can reduce or eliminate the need for any complex or time-consuming real-time or near real-time processing, particularly during screening or in the event the scanning procedure is operated by an individual not qualified to perform a diagnosis of the results. By storing pre-processed results from a scan, data can be processed at a later time. In this way, less patient time is required. Additionally, storing pre-processed results allows for scheduling processing time during down time while making results available for the evaluator in a timely manner.
Not shown in
As shown in
Advantageously, a set of reference symbols is provided in each display to orient the user. The direction of view in
Also displayed in the views of
The navigator scroll buttons 1610 enable the user to step the display of CT sections in display 510 from one section containing a ROI to another section containing a different ROI. Specifically, with each click of an up or down scroll button 1610, display 510 goes from the display of a CT section containing a ROI to the display of the CT section containing the next ROI.
As indicated above, a horizontal line extends across volumetric display 520 indicating the location of the axial section then being displayed in display 510. As the navigator scroll buttons 1610 change the CT section being displayed, the location of the white horizontal line 1622 on display 1620 and the location of the white horizontal line on volumetric display 520 change accordingly.
Likewise, the magnified view on display 530 changes to the ROI identified on the selected CT section.
Left and right scroll buttons 1630 enable the user to navigate through the entire case of CT sections one-at-a-time. Each click of a button changes the display to the next section in the case. These buttons provide more precise CT viewing around the identified ROI. Advantageously, a scroll bar (not shown) may also be provided to allow the user to scan through the sections at a speed controlled by movement of the scroll bar.
Assuming that the operation to be performed is display of an CT section, the computer system displays the selected section at step 1720. It also displays at step 1730 the volumetric view of display 520 with a horizontal line indicating the position of the axial section; and it displays at step 1740 the view of the ROI on display 530 with an orientation specified by the inputs from the trackball or mouse.
Navigators 1910 and 1930 offer similar functionality to that of the other navigators described herein, for example, navigator 540. The first navigator preferably includes a first set of up and down scroll buttons 1912 and 1914, and a second set of left and right scroll buttons 1916. Display bar 1911 is a visual display of the vector of slice numbers that contain a ROI. Each slice number is represented in the display by a horizontal line such as horizontal line 1920. The axial section then being displayed in display 1905 is indicated by a white line 1915. The other horizontal lines are dark. The lines are spaced apart by an amount proportional to their distance from each other in the complete case of axial sections.
The second navigator preferably includes a first set of up and down scroll buttons 1932 and 1934, and a second set of left and right scroll buttons 1936. Display bar 1931 is a visual display of the vector of slice numbers that contain a ROI. Each slice number is represented in the display by a horizontal line such as horizontal line 1940. The axial section then being displayed in display 1905 is indicated by a white line 1942. The other horizontal lines are dark. The lines are spaced apart by an amount proportional to their distance from each other in the complete case of axial sections. Lines 1952 and 1957 correspond to relative volumetric locations in the images of second display 1950 and second temporal display 1955 of the axial sections as displayed in the first display 1905 and first temporal display 1930, respectively.
Each display window is independently controllable by navigator 1910 or 1930. Alternatively, the images can be scrolled simultaneously via navigation scroll bar 1975 which overrides the first and second set of scroll bars to update images in the display windows concurrently and allows users to compare images in corresponding windows concurrently.
To permit the user to make meaningful comparisons between the images displayed on display 1905 and those displayed on display 1925, it is necessary to synchronize the displays so that at any time the image section shown on each display was taken at the same location in the body. This is a concern because the size of bodily organs in the same person change over time. In the case of the lung, they change even over a few seconds between inhalation and exhalation. Obviously, where the images being compared come from different people, differences between the images can be expected.
A method for registering 3-D images is disclosed in the assignee's copending application, "Automated Registration of 3-D Medical Scans of Similar Anatomical Structures," Ser. No. 09/993,790, filed Nov. 23, 2001. The method may be used to synchronize the displays depicted in
Alternatively, the local similarity transformation process that is part of the registration method described in application Ser. No. 09/993,790 may be used to synchronize the displays. The technique uses a motion-tracking algorithm to relate prominent features in the set of CT axial sections that are to be displayed on display 1905 to the same prominent features in the set of CT axial sections that are to be displayed on display 1925. Details of this process are set forth in the description of FIG. 8 of application Ser. No. 09/993,790.
The output of this process is a scan map that relates features found in the axial sections of one set to the corresponding features found in the axial sections of the other set. The relationships specified in this map are typically multi-dimensional. The dimension in this map that is perpendicular to the plane of the axial sections specifies which axial section of one set corresponds to an axial section in the other set. Accordingly, displays of 1905 and 1925 can be synchronized by using this information to determine which axial section of one set should be displayed when a specified axial section of the other set is displayed.
This alternative has the advantage that the axial sections in both sets may be left unchanged in the dimensions in the plane of the sections. This avoids considerable image processing and makes it possible to generate the displays in synchronism quite rapidly.
As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the temporal display images can be extended to include images taken at a third or fourth time, etc. so that qualified personnel would be able to track, monitor and/or diagnose a patient's progress over several different times. Corresponding scroll bars can be appropriately included.
While the temporal display images allow for a comparison of images taken of a patient at different times, in a further embodiment a cross-comparison display allows for the comparison of an image taken from a patient with an image of healthy tissue. In this way, the image taken of a patient can be easily compared against tissue representative of a healthy anatomy for assessing whether the patient's image is one of healthy or unhealthy tissue. The comparison can be simply visual or the comparison can be automated to determine whether the differences between the patient's image and the related cross-patient image indicative of healthy tissue exceeds acceptable thresholds. For example, a doctor can place one or more markers at a location on the patient image and place a corresponding marker at a location on the cross-comparison, or healthy tissue image. Differences in dimensions or intensity levels may be indicated in a margin or generated in a report (see
Any of the display portions described herein can include numerical information within the display associated with any part of image then being rendered. For example, the diameter, volume, and intensity values can represented for a selected nodule highlighted by a marker. Additionally, probability values, in numerical form and/or analog form, may be provided and associated with the markers for detected or suspected abnormalities.
Preferably, the various interfaces are implemented based on touch-screen technology. Touch screens may be activated by touch and may or may not necessitate or include use of a mouse or other controller to navigate the interface. For example, a standard resistive display can be used where a controller and a specially-coated screen or glass overlay produce a touch connection. Such resistive displays allow for access via various input tools such as a finger, gloved finger, stylus and/or pen.
Preferably, a capacitive touch screen is used. Capacitive touch screens are generally all glass and more durable. For such screens a small current of electricity runs across the screen, and touching the screen interrupts the current and activates the screen. Such a screen is only activated by a human finger; a gloved finger, stylus or pen will not usually activate the screen.
Yet other types of touch screens can be based on surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) technology. Such SAW-based screens use mechanical waves on the surface of the glass to provide superior optical performance. When the screen is touched by a finger, gloved finger, pen and/or stylus, a mechanical wave is absorbed. Since a wave must be absorbed, SAW-based screens are resistant to false touch activations.
Medical applications also use infrared technology to implement high-end touch screens. Such screens rely on the interruption of an infrared light in the front of a display screen. Such screens can be sealed and activated by a finger, gloved finger, pen or stylus.
Because medical imaging equipment typically must interoperate with other medical devices, it is common for CT scanners and other medical imaging devices, displays and software to be interoperable and exchange data based on a common standard or protocol. For example, one such protocol is the DICOM standard, published by National Electrical Manufacturers Association, 1300 N. 17th Street, Rosslyn, Va. 22209 USA. A current final draft of this standard is publicly available at http://medical.nema.org/dicom/2000.html. The DICOM standard includes syntax and semantics of commands and associated information which can be exchanged by devices, particularly medical imaging equipment using the protocol. By using an interoperability standard, the exchange of digital information between medical imaging equipment can be facilitated. Preferably, the various interfaces described herein are based on a standard such as the DICOM standard. Implementation based on a standard supports the development of a conformance statement wherein a system is defined and where interoperability can be expected with another device claiming conformance to the standard. In this way, an interface can be configurable with various types and models of equipment conforming to the standard.
In another embodiment, hard copy or printed images are produced responsive to a command. Responsive to a command such as by touching a touch screen or by using another type of input device such as a keyboard or mouse, a high resolution image is printed using a printer. The printed image includes highlighting by applying a distinctive color such as white or red to the identified pixels. Moreover, in an embodiment, a close-up view is printed responsive to a command such that the printed radiographic image is shown at high resolution and the highlighting is also shown at high resolution. A radiologist can then use the printed radiographic image to supplement his evaluation of the digitized radiographic images as well as the actual radiographic films.
Advantageously, the system of the present invention also permits editing of the nodule information set forth on display screens or on printed images. This can be performed in a variety of ways.
In one case a series of CT axial sections may be presented to a radiologist without any indication of suspicious lesions thereon. The radiologist then scans these sections, identifies suspicious lesions, and marks them on the axial sections in question by selecting the section, moving a cursor to the location of the lesion, and entering this location into the system by clicking on a mouse or pressing the ENTER key or the like. The system can then display to the radiologist the same series of CT axial sections with the nodules marked by the radiologist identified on the axial sections shown in display 510, on the volumetric display 520, and on navigator 540. In addition, the system can also perform its own analysis of the data presented in the axial sections to identify suspicious lesions; and the results of this analysis can also be identified on the axial sections shown in display 510, on the volumetric display 520 and on navigator 540. Optionally, the radiologist's markings can be displayed using one color and the system's markings using another color. The radiologist can then review both sets of markings and any additional information available and decide which markings to keep and which ones to reject. The final decisions can then be reported in a report having the format of that shown in
Alternatively, the editing function can also be implemented so that the system's analysis of suspicious lesions is presented to the radiologist before the radiologist marks any lesions. The radiologist then reviews the axial sections, reviews the markings made by the system on the axial sections and any additional information and decides which markings to keep and which to reject. Reporting and recordkeeping can then be the same as in the case where the radiologist marks the axial sections first.
In marking the axial sections, it may be advantageous to mark confidence levels or probability ratings associated with the decision to mark. Different degrees of confidence or probability may be indicated by use of different colors and/or by numerical or alphabetic scores. In assigning confidence levels or probability ratings, the radiologist will be relying on his experience. The system will be relying on the algorithms it is using for lesion detection and whatever capability those algorithms have for generating a confidence level. Advantageously, a threshold should be set and no confidence level should be reported if it does not exceed that threshold.
The confidence level information may be used in a variety of ways. The radiologist is likely to use confidence levels or probability ratings associated with a mark generated by the system in determining whether to accept or reject the mark. The system could use independently generated confidence levels or probability ratings from the radiologist as one more input in its decision to mark or not mark a suspicious lesion.
From a research standpoint, the markings by the radiologist and the system will be of interest in any effort to improve the performance of the radiologist and/or the detection algorithms used by the system.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, numerous modifications may be made in the display of the present invention that are within the scope and spirit of the invention. While the invention has been described in a particular context of CT scanning of the lungs to detect potentially cancerous regions, the invention may also be used to display the results of CT scanning of other regions of the body and for other applications as well as to display the results of other scanning technologies such as ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance imaging. For example, the invention described herein could apply other organs and anatomical parts including, without limitation, the heart, brain, spine, colon, kidney and liver.
In another example, the system described above processes the data in the axial sections off-line to detect suspicious lesions. This is in a batch operation after the entire set of axial sections has been generated. However, the detection algorithms may also be run in real-time as each axial section is generated by the CT scanner.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Aug 3, 1987
|Jul 25, 1989
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|Method and system for localization of inter-rib spaces and automated lung texture analysis in digital chest radiographs
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|Apparatus and method for enhancement of image viewing by modulated illumination of a transparency
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|Real-time recognition of pointing information from video
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|Allen George S
|Method and apparatus for imaging the anatomy
|Jun 23, 1993
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|Determining cardiac wall thickness and motion by imaging and three-dimensional modeling
|Jan 24, 1997
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|Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research
|System for two dimensional and three dimensional imaging of tubular structures in the human body
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|Advanced diagnostic viewer employing automated protocol selection for volume-rendered imaging
|Nov 29, 1996
|Nov 16, 1999
|Arch Development Corporation
|Method and system for displaying medical images
|Nov 4, 1998
|Jan 2, 2001
|University Of Rochester
|System and method for 4D reconstruction and visualization
|Oct 16, 1996
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|Wake Forest University
|Method and system for producing interactive three-dimensional renderings of selected body organs having hollow lumens to enable simulated movement through the lumen
|Oct 22, 1999
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|Philips Medical Systems (Cleveland), Inc.
|Method and apparatus for planning brachytherapy surgical procedures
|Apr 23, 1999
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|Wake Forest University
|Automatic analysis in virtual endoscopy
|Nov 6, 2000
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|Volumetrics Medical Imaging
|Methods and systems for volume rendering using ultrasound data
|Nov 21, 2001
|Aug 2, 2005
|R2 Technology, Inc.
|Graphical user interface for display of anatomical information
|Sep 30, 2002
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|R2 Technology, Inc.
|Graphical user interface for display of anatomical information
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|Mediguide Ltd
|Medical imaging and navigation system
|Citing Patent
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|Mar 30, 2007
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|Calgary Scientific Inc.
|Super resolution contextual close-up visualization of volumetric data
|Apr 24, 2009
|Jul 5, 2011
|Jan Bertus Marten Marcel Warntjes
|MRI display with contrast navigation window
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|Scan start and/or end position identifier
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|Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.
|Method and apparatus for minimally invasive surgery using endoscopes
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|Siemens Corporate Research Inc
|Method and apparatus for minimally invasive surgery using endoscopes
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|Systems and methods for determining a global or local position of a point of interest within a scene using a three-dimensional model of the scene
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|Super resolution contextual close-up visualization of volumetric data
|May 23, 2007
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|David Thomas Gering
|Method and System for Generating a Collage to Summarize a Medical Dataset
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|Marcel Warntjes
|MRI Display with Contrast Navigation Window
|Dec 8, 2008
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|Neemuchwala Huzefa F
|Device and Method for Displaying Feature Marks Related to Features in Three Dimensional Images on Review Stations
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|Martin Huber
|Method and a system for image annotation
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|Scan start and/or end position identifier
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|Pathway planning system and method
|U.S. Classification
|345/419, 378/21, 378/4, 715/700, 378/901, 382/128, 600/425
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Oct 26, 2007
Owner name: GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., CALIFORNIA
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Type of Document Master's Thesis Author Powell, Syrena Author's Email Address email@example.com URN etd-11152005-092832 Title The Effect of Dietary Phosphorus Level and Phytase Supplementation on Growth Performance, Bone Breaking Strength, and Phosphorus Excretion in Broilers Degree Master of Science (M.S.) Department Animal Science (Animal, Dairy, & Poultry Sciences) Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Lee Southern Committee Chair Lewis Gaston Committee Member Thomas Bidner Committee Member Keywords
- phytase
- broilers
- phosphorus
- excretion
Date of Defense 2005-11-07 Availability unrestricted AbstractThis research was conducted to determine the effects of feeding different P levels with and without phytase supplementation on broiler growth performance, bone breaking strength (BBS), and P excretion. An experiment with 4 trials was conducted with 7,840 Ross x Ross straight run broilers. For each trial, 1,960 broilers were allotted on d 0 to 4 treatments with 7 replications per treatment with 70 broilers per replication. The broilers were fed a 4 period feeding program consisting of starter (0 to 14 d), grower (14 to 32 d), finisher (32 to 41 d), and withdrawal (41 to 50 d) periods. For each trial, the same pen was used continuously for each treatment/replication combination, and the litter was not removed between trials. Broilers were fed a control diet (0.43, 0.40, 0.36, or 0.32% nonphytate P (nPP) in the starter, grower, finisher, and withdrawal periods, respectively), a low Ca and P (LCaP) diet with a 0.05% reduction in nPP in each period, and these two diets supplemented with 600 phytase units/kg (nPP was reduced by 0.094% in diets with phytase). Diet did not affect (P > 0.10) broiler performance in the starter or withdrawal periods. Generally, both phytase addition and the LCaP diet decreased some aspects of growth performance during the grower and finisher periods. There was no main effect of phytase on BBS, but BBS was decreased in the broilers fed the LCaP diet with phytase addition (nPP x Phy, P < 0.01) in the grower period, and BBS was decreased in finisher (P < 0.02) and withdrawal (P < 0.01) periods for broilers fed the LCaP diet. Total P (TP), soluble P (SP), and reactive soluble P (RSP) were decreased (P < 0.04) in the litter of broilers fed the LCaP diets. Total P was decreased (P < 0.01) in the litter of broilers fed phytase, but SP and RSP were not affected (P > 0.10) by phytase. These data indicate that phytase supplementation at 600 phytase units/kg reduces growth in some periods, has no effect on BBS, and that phytase reduces TP but not SP or RSP in the litter. Files
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28.8 Modem 56K Modem ISDN (64 Kb) ISDN (128 Kb) Higher-speed Access Powell_thesis.pdf 163.18 Kb 00:00:45 00:00:23 00:00:20 00:00:10 < 00:00:01


text:
In our Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dog Food, we start with real chicken as our first ingredient plus enhanced botanical oils. Why? Because we discovered these enhanced oils provide an efficient fuel source for your senior dog's brain, helping naturally nourish his mind to help him think more like he did when he was younger. It seems senior dogs aren't the only ones learning new tricks.
Get $3 off* your first bag when you register for the 28-Day Challenge.
It's choosing ingredients that work better together than they ever could on their own that inspired us to call this bag of dog food SMARTBLEND.
What's A Dual Defense Antioxidant Blend? One That Works Inside & Out. It's probably not something your dog thinks about, but his SMARTBLEND is working around the clock. It starts with a dual defense antioxidant blend of Vitamins E & A along with minerals zinc and selenium in a 100% complete diet for your senior dog. Together, they make a healthy difference on the inside by supporting your dog's strong immune system and on the outside by supporting healthy skin and a radiant coat.
We're inspired by the science in nature, discovering the power of smart ingredients that work together for your senior dog's whole body health.
*Good only in U.S.A., A.P.O.'s, F.P.O.'s. Void where taxed, prohibited, and restricted. LIMIT ONE PER INDIVIDUAL, HOUSEHOLD OR E-MAIL ADDRESS. FULL LEGAL COPY
Real chicken as the first ingredient blended with other high-quality protein sources provides an optimal protein level, helping support strong muscles and a healthy heart while maintaining strength and mobility
Omega-6 helps give your senior dog a radiant coat and healthy skin
Natural sources of glucosamine help support healthy joints
Highly digestible so more nutrition goes to work inside your dog
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New picture posted.


text: Hey all just picked up my first subaru WRX. Its an 08 with about 50k miles on it, got a great deal and a bumper to bumper warranty. Im sooooooo in love with the car i want to sleep in it LOL. Well if anyone has any tips or anything to keep her running smooth or some secrets to tuning (as I am a new comer but very eager to learn) i would appreciate it....Thanx!


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School Tax
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August 22nd, 2006, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by
Yes, but places like condo associations and trailer parks screw the rest of us b/c they are taxed as a whole and not as individual residences and they end up paying a lot less. Go to any town meeting and you will find this out. Trailer parks are necessary as "affordable housing", but they cost the rest of the tax payers big time b/c they require more infrastructure per square mile and they are usually packed full of kids and pay little into the tax system.
Condo's are individually assessed, and taxed (As well as owned). Just like "regular homes" and businesses, as they are also individuall owned.
trailer parks are a heavy consumer of all government services, not just schools, and there have been many attempts to attempt to make up the perceived diference. the park as a whole is however taxed on it's value (the value of which is often predicated on the income stream it can generate - think of it as an annuity, as that's how they sell in the market place) and each individual pad/tenant is assessed a flat rate pittance of a tax.
In addition, the law states that each assessor shall asses, and levy personal property taxes upon garages, decks, sheds, and other improvements that exist within a licensed trailer park, but as always, it's an ad-valorem tax, and what really is the value of a garage, inside a trailer park "in the market".
in practice, this is rarely, if ever assessed/levied, and when it is, it also is a pittance.
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The Pure Products of America Go Crazy
"Somehow I had offered to deliver bad news to a maniac."
It could be a line from David Berman's Actual Air, his endlessly rereadable collection of poems, published in 1999. You can even imagine Berman's deadpan, dead-on singing voice delivering that non-punchline punchline on one of his albums with his band, the Silver Jews.
But the jokiness of this statement, as it appears in his new book of drawings, The Portable February (Drag City), instantly starts seeping away, replaced by something stranger. In the context of Berman's crude de Chirico flatland, new meanings reverberate. The words are scrawled on a billboard (or perhaps projected) on the side of a building, somewhere near the center of town, under a jagged cloud formation part coxcomb, part coastline. In the foreground a horse-drawn sleigh pulls away, its toqued and bearded driver seamlessly merged with the vehicle itself, which looks like a gondola escaped from some decommissioned Tunnel of Love. The entire thing defies deciphering. Who is the maniac, and what is the bad news?
It's a mystery, the kind that we've seen in Berman's songs, poems, and now his comics, a selection of which we're showcasing here.
A cynic might see The Portable February as a quickie offering scraped from the bottom of the barrel, especially as it's being released by Berman's record label, Drag City, in the wake of his recent surprise announcement dissolving the Silver Jews. If so, it's a pretty impressive barrel. Like the SJ songbook and Actual Air, The Portable February is easy to like and hard to shake. These cartoons are more spontaneous than Berman's musical and poetic output—stick figures and wobbly lines dominate, and I counted more than one corrective scribble simply left to stand. (In "The Overthrow of Fine Dining," most of the captions have been blotted to illegibility, as if subjected to a censor.) But the humor and staying power of the best of these drawings (or, as I just mistyped, "rawings") has much to do with their complicated framing and conceptual playfulness. (The closest song equivalent I can think of might be "Old New York," part of a split single, in which Berman and sometime Silver Jew Stephen Malkmus trade off-the-cuff lyrics, step on each other's lines, and basically give the aural impression of two guys lying on their backs, staring at the ceiling, charting loopy new Gotham territory until the tape runs out; weirdly, this 1994 rarity is imbued with nostalgia, despite the unlikeliness of the scenarios conjured by the words: "Stop by Howard Johnson's. . . . You might even meet Mick Ronson.")
In drawing after drawing, sign and signifier get tantalizingly tangled. In "David David Can You Hear Me?," with its six panels, six words, and six images, a bearded face appears three times, tracking first as farce and eventually as menace. It's a children's card game gone off the rails, a skeletal Magritte. A section of one omnibus drawing (in which Berman packs up to 16 panels with loosely related or apparently unrelated drawings and captions) depicts a jagged route connecting small circles, purportedly illustrating how "Mail flows effortlessly from town to town"; right next to it we get the same path, with a shakier line, dubbed "Study for 'Mail flows effortlessly from town to town.'"
Berman is able to pull off such automythologizing—maximizing the humor and getting to keep the myth. In Actual Air, he bestows on a selection of 11 non-contiguously Roman-numeraled dazzlers the hilariously grandiose (yet still grand) title "From Cantos for James Michener: Part II." A mainstream American novelist, famous in his heyday for his heavily researched (and just plain heavy) doorstops, is resurrected, however obliquely. What might at first glance look like a congeries of riffs is as sharp as the Polaroid you can't throw away ("The nurses are so beautiful, he thought. / Try to remember that they are covered in germs"), as honed as an axiom ("An evening train is a literary device"). Could this sampling of "Cantos" actually be a commentary zeroing in on the secret nerve centers of Alaska, Texas, Hawaii, et al.? In his appealing termite way, Berman has gone and made his subject America itself. The recurrence of states in The Portable February gently underlines this, as in "Classical Illnois": a weird soldier figure, half-man and half-tree (or—squid?), radiating mysterious particles from his eyes, stands sentry next to an outline of the land of Lincoln.
Some of these drawings are hits of pure joy, such as "Dancing to the Thompson Twins"—a high-stepping bug with arms aloft, surely close to one's self-image when partaking in the described activity. Most have a touch of acid, if not darkness, around the edges of the joke. In another omnibus drawing, a deadpan list ("Hornet Boy," "Rake Boy"), and a glimpse of the setup for a "Graveyard Film" give way to three blank panels, scenes from a dream or pages from a catalogue or a catalogue of dreams. Then the nightmare promised by the cemetery scene swells in the last two panels: a stick figure barking, "Back up, Back up" as shapes float out of its mouth; a swastika made of guitars.
And sometimes an entire microscopic cultural-historical moment, if not a whole life, seems encapsulated in one panel, a handful of sentences. "I lay in bed & listened to my clock radio,' reads one caption. "They played a song called 'Sara' every night. The lyrics went 'drowning in a sea of love, where everyone would love to drown.' It seemed evil, for someone to want to drown."
The tone is reminiscent of the poems, but a touch more naïve. The objects that populate the room push against the tone. A figure lies on a stiff-looking bed, head detached from neck as though murdered. On the wall is a poster of the Dallas Cowboys' quintessential quarterback, Roger Staubach, perfectly abbreviated: ball atop arm, the number 12, team emblem afloat where helmet should be. Next to the poster is a window looking out at the sea, the sky indicated by a lone rounded M of a bird aloft. Or maybe this scene is just another poster, a study for drowning in a sea of love.
Ed Park is the author of the novel Personal Days (Random House, 2008) and a founding editor of The Believer. His work most recently appears in Bound to Last: 30 Writers on Their Most Cherished Book (Da Capo). He blogs at The Dizzies.
The Pure Products of America Go Crazy
Ed Park is the author of the novel Personal Days (Random House, 2008) and a founding editor of The Believer. His work most recently appears in Bound to Last: 30 Writers on Their Most Cherished Book (Da Capo). He blogs at The Dizzies.
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text:
Today's Devotional
You Have EnoughHow can you offer God your best today?
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betterthanme's FavoritesBack to betterthanme's channel.
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makes people tingleeee!ohitzlawrence2008-03-17T00:00:00504,724 views00:05:34
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Falling on my knees ==> je m'agenoux
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- Evolution of DanceThe funniest 6 minutes you will ever see! Remember how many of these you have done!
Judson Laipply is dancing -
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- Rider on a White Horse ~ Revelation 19:11 skitThis was shot during a summer camp retreat last summer at Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters in NC. I made a video out of it set to the song Savior by Skillet. The drama was based on Revelation 19:11. The counselors at this retreat center do an incred...reinpro2008-03-17T00:00:0022,344 views00:03:42
- Stomp Remix Dance Relentless MinistriesThe was performed that TCTC conference. It was the first time we did the dance in front a large venue, 6000 kids. It was awesome. Tyler and Andrew really pulled off the slow motion sequence.arielp19772008-03-17T00:00:0040,010 views00:04:25


text:
It only takes a minute to get started. Fill out our simple sign up form and login to the website.
This step is discretionary but will dramatically increase your chances of people actually reading your profile and contacting you. Type a little about yourself, your pasttimes and attach any nice photographs of yourself.
Utilise our website's cutting-edge search to spot members who match your desired criteria. Or just scan through listings and spot folks that appeal to you.
Identified someone who looks interesting? Send a note to them or just a wink and see what develops from there. With a little luck you'll be on your way to uncover your ideal match.
And start dating


text:
A Map of London
A Map of London
The first issue of SHOP magazine, the magazine of a shop in the Savoy Hotel needed an endpaper showing a map of London. Initially I did not realize what I had gotten myself into – the brief seemed so straight forward: Draw a map of London! But how can you show London on a mere double spread?
For inspiration I was looking at a lot of pictures and old maps of the city and decided that a top view would be most suitable as what makes London recognisable is its distinct architecture. This would feature well in the slightly distorted perspective. The part of the city I chose to include made it possible to show several landmarks at once, which is the most obvious way to portrait a city!
The planning of the image was the most challenging, drawing was more an act of endurance! But I am very happy
with the result!


text:
The Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Pets (Spanish Language)
AVMA Tips for Pet Disaster Preparedness
National Dog Bite Prevention Week 2011
NewsRadio KTRH on Cats Vs. Dogs
Veterinary Shortage Interview on NewsRadio KTRH
Dog Bite Prevention Week
Dr. Gregory S. Hammers WCTC-NY Interview on Pet Obesity
Dog Bite Prevention
How Safe is Our Food?
Where are all the veterinary students?
Pet Dental Health
Health Resolutions
Medications for Behavioral Problems in Pets


text:
So, I appear to express myself in mid-range writing on here. A lot.
But words, let's face it... sometimes they just don't do justice to the reality we experience.
So this was my experience when I came home from work at the end of my shift.
(The last part was me scurrying up the stairs to go get the hubby.)
We loved the box of awesomeness, and as it was too late to wake the rest of the house, I thought it best to express my delight here. So I did.
Squee. I'm glad you scored one too!
I feel like The Count from Sesame Street. One, ONE wootizen received a Bricks of Chocolate Two, TWO wootizens received a Bricks of Chocolate Three, THREE ....
I'm so happy to hear your good fortune!
View All →


text:
Raiganj, Feb. 13: Deepa Das Munshi today said she was confident that work on constructing an AIIMS-like hospital in Panishala would begin by the end of March.
"Any day before March 31 you will see some concrete activity happening," she said.
The Union minister for urban development made the announcement while visiting the family of Abdul Karim, who was shot dead by a jawan of the Border Guard Bangladesh at Makarhat on February 10.
"I had contacted Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. He is scheduled to visit Calcutta on February 17 and is expected to take up the matter with the state government," she said.


text:
Utilizing Analyst Market, our family office is able to source investment research that was previously inaccessible to us. We now have access to the top analysts in the industry.
For some Funds of Funds it takes 6-12 months to perform due diligence on one manager. As we are able to use Analyst Market to source high quality due diligence in a matter of weeks, we save time and are able to commit to a manager before our competitors do.


text:
Navy Bean Vegetable Soup Recipe
- 4 medium carrots, thinly sliced
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham
- 1-1/2 cups dried navy beans
- 1 envelope vegetable recipe mix (Knorr)
- 1 envelope onion soup mix
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 8 cups water
- In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the first nine ingredients. Stir in water. Cover and cook on low for 9-10 hours or until beans are tender. Discard bay leaf. Yield: 12 servings (3 quarts).
Reviews forNavy Bean Vegetable Soup
My Review
Average Rating
"Followed pretty much exactly (I turned slow cooker on high for the first couple of hours) and it turned out great with pretty much perfect flavor. I'll be making this again."
"I followed the directions exactly and the soup turned out right. However, the flavor was very bland. We all ate it, but we all agreed there wasn't much flavor. I guess it depends on what you like."
"Based on the other reviews, I had high hopes for this soup but it just was not good. The flavor was bland and overly salty. I followed the recipe exactly so I'm not sure what went wrong but we didn't care for it and threw the leftovers out. Sorry :/"
"I made this soup exactly as is. I did not soak the beans the night before, since the directions did not mention it and I did worry that the beans would be tough. My hubby said that it was one of the best soups that I have ever made. WOW, thank you TOH for making me look good!!"
"This was so good. Even better the next day. I soaked (Great Northern) beans over night, then boiled them about an hour while preparing everything else, rinsed the beans and added to crock pot with everything else. Cooked on High setting for about 5 hours. Everything was blended and the perfect consistency. The broth is wonderful. This can be so versatile with other ingredients (meats, veggies) too. My husband loved it! I followed recipe, (with the exception of a couple shakes of Worcestershire Sauce). I might add some small pasta next time. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!"
"Delicious! I did do a couple of things differently. I used small white, canned beans. I made my own onion soup mix and added a couple of potatoes. Followed the rest of the recipe exactly. This recipe is a keeper!"
"We loved this soup. I didn't have any Navy beans on hand so I substituted other dried beans. Fail. I put the beans into my slow cooker at about 8:30am and at 6:30pm they were still hard. Left it on all night....in the morning, still hard. Switched it to high and then at noon we ate it--about 27 hours later. :) Some beans were still crunchy. But--having said that it was absolutely DELICIOUS! I will make this over and over again...I'll just soak my beans overnight first. I can't stress enough how flavorful this soup is! I added a can of chopped tomatoes and omitted the Knorr veg. soup pack because I didn't have any. Oh my, so YUMMY!"
"My husband isn't a fan of Navy Bean soup. I made this and the only thing I did differently was I had a ham hock I used in the pot for flavoring. I thought the soup was absolutely delicious. My husband actually had thirds, not just seconds. He declared it was a keeper and asked me to make it again and soon."


text:
Making the choice: Values and performance
English, Rebecca M. (2006) Making the choice: Values and performance. Education Horizons, 9(2).
Administrators only
What do parents want from their children's school? This is a question schools are asking themselves in a changing education environment where parental choice is encouraged and where parents are not afraid to exercise their right to exit or voice their complaints if the school does not meet their expectations. The funding of schools in Australia has changed over the last 10 to 15 years so that now schools operate in an environment where competition for parents is directly related to funding, as the number of parents schools attract determines the funding they receive. Parents are told that they are able to make choices about the right educational path for their children. This raises the question, how do they determine which school is best for their children?
Impact and interest:
Citation counts are sourced monthly from Scopus and Web of Science® citation databases.
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2012 Fairfield Christmas Tree Festival Children's Event - The Burr Homestead
Hours: 5-7pm
Ages: TOD,YE,AD
Price: $20
739 Old Post Road - 203-256-0767
Fairfield, CT 06825
Description: Enjoy a surprise visit from Santa Claus, festive arts & crafts, holiday face painting, and an animated magic show by Nick Morriello as Mr. Abracadabra. Feast on a delicious chicken & pasta dinner and salad provided by A&S, bread from Billy's Bakery, and holiday cookies from The Pantry. Then join an old-fashioned Christmas stroll to watch the annual tree lighting at the Fairfield Town Hall. Tickets may be purchased through the website. Advance reservations are limited and required Festival admission included with ticket. For more information, please email email@example.com.


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Cartoon: Pulling the plug From the Executive Editor: Advice in '17 Sustainability essentials From the Field of Fan Engagement Healing time: Sports' role after Pulse From The Exec Editor: Villanova rises Cartoon: What does it all mean? Sports media marketplace still robust From The Exec Editor: Straight talk From The Exec Editor: A sporting chance
Upcoming Conferences and Events
SBJ/November 10 - 16, 2003/Opinion
With success comes obligation
Published November 10, 2003
We are pleased to fill our pages this week with some of the leading young executives in our industry. Our fifth annual Forty Under 40 report shows an industry rich with talent and long on achievement. This group represents significant accomplishment, intellect, vision and passion. These pages are filled with stories about unique people and we are proud to introduce — or re-introduce — them to you. We salute them.
We also challenge them — and ourselves. In five years of compiling this list, we have made 200 selections; 167 of them have been white males. This is not by design. We wish there were more women and minorities on our lists, that the faces were more representative of society. We challenge ourselves to do a better job of finding the best and sharing their stories of success.
At the same time, we ask that the industry, and particularly our honorees, commit to a more diverse work force and target dynamic talent from all over the world. We hope, and trust, our winners are up to the challenge of bringing about change.


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Location: Crop Production and Pest Control Research2013 Annual Report
1a. Objectives (from AD-416):
1) Identify genetic loci which contribute positive alleles to seed yield and quality traits and which control variation in seed quality, especially seed oil, protein, carbohydrate content, and fatty acid composition of legume seeds; develop strategies to facilitate effective transfer of useful genes into cultivated legumes; 1a) Mapping and characterizing mutant alleles that contribute to variation in seed fatty acid composition; 1b) Discovery of the molecular identity of genes that influence overall protein or oil content by forward genetics approaches. 2) Determine epigenetic patterns in soybean seeds during development, assess relationships between chromatin state and gene expression, and develop approaches to modify gene expression in developing seeds; 2a) Genome-wide profiling of epigenetic state and gene expression in developing soybean seeds by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) and RNA sequence-based expression profiling (RNA-seq).
1b. Approach (from AD-416):
The project uses molecular biological approaches to study the regulation of genes that are required for soybean seed development. Biochemical approaches are used to study the interactions and function of gene products that are important for the accumulation of storage proteins or fatty acids in seeds. Molecular and genetic tools are used to define genes and genetic intervals that contribute to seed protein and oil content in mutant plants.
3. Progress Report:
We are working with a number of soybean lines with altered fatty acid composition to characterize the genes involved in seed composition as well as to evaluate the effects of combination of mutant alleles to stack composition traits. We have identified 6 mutations in the SACPD-C gene and verified that these mutations are related to increased levels of stearic acid in soybean seeds. These mutations confer an increased level of stearic acid in the seed which will make soybean oil more useful in cooking fats. Another goal for the improvement of soybean oil is to increase the levels of oleic acid to increase the stability of the oil. During this project period we continued to characterize soybean fatty acid mutants with increased levels of oleic acid, identifying 7 lines carrying new mutations in known genes that result in high levels of oleic acid, and range in oleic acid content from 33-46%. These mutations may be combined to result in even higher levels of oleic acid and prove to be a useful resource for soybean breeders and geneticists. To identify novel mutations, we have expanded our efforts to generate both conventional and next-generation genetic mapping populations to identify the genes responsible for several other fatty acid traits, including alterations in linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. One milestone this year was to use the bulk segregant resequencing technique to identify genes responsible for altered fatty acid content. This technique uses next-generation sequencing on individuals from a segregating population that share a fatty acid phenotype to quickly identify linked genes. This growing season we have obtained the tissue and will finish the phenotyping of an additional generation to ensure that the lines that will be used for sequencing are true-breeding. We have initiated a new project to identify the transcriptional regulators bound to the promoters of seed storage protein genes during seed development, seed samples have been collected that will be analyzed in the fall.
4. Accomplishments


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Evangelical Community Hospital is pleased to welcome a new pediatrician to its Medical Staff. Mary Beth O'Hara, DO, FAAP will be joining the Evangelical Medical Service Organization (EMSO) on August 15, 2013. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and completed her pediatric residency at Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Danville.
Currently accepting new patients, Dr. O'Hara is dedicated to the health and wellness of every child in her care. Building on her experience as a physician and mother of three, she approaches parents as partners in the health of their child.
Dr. O'Hara earned her medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia. An Internal Medicine/Rotating Internship at Lehigh Valley Medical Center, Allentown and the pediatric residency at the Janet Wise Children's Hospital completed her education. Prior to joining the EMSO, O'Hara worked as an attending pediatrician at Susquehanna Health Medical Group Pediatrics for nearly 14 years and also served as the Chairman for the Department of Pediatrics at Susquehanna Health/Williamsport Hospital, Williamsport.
Dr. O'Hara will be practicing at Family Medical Care, 45 Forestwood Drive, Lewisburg. For more information regarding Dr. O'Hara's services and how she may be able to help you and your child, please call (570) 524-5050.
Evangelical Community Hospital received the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award in 2013 for the fifth consecutive year, making it one of two hospitals in Pennsylvania to be recognized for consistent, positive patient experience.
Evangelical is a non-profit organization that employs approximately 1,300 people and has more than 170 employed and non-employed physicians on staff. The Hospital is licensed to accommodate 130 overnight patients, 12 acute rehab patients and 18 bassinets. The Hospital serves residents throughout the Central Susquehanna Valley, including those living in Snyder, Union, Northumberland and Lycoming Counties.


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Happy Halloween! We hope everyone's safe and sound during this week of terrible weather impacting such a large portion of the country. We've got some giveaway winners to announce this morning:
Out of 4,057 entries, our winner chosen by Random.org is Linda M-J. Congratulations!
Uggie's Autobiography, Uggie, My Story
Out of 473 entries, our winners are Sue B., Rick W., Erica S., Kristen C, and Catie R. Congratulations!
On November 1, we're launching a BIG giveaway but, in the meantime, here's a rundown of our current giveaways (many ending today!)
- October Bowser Birthday Club
- Fido's Freebie Friday pet giveaway blog hop
- On CatTipper.com: Win in $2,500 Royal Canin cat food for your favorite shelter or cat rescue!
- On CatTipper.com: Imperial Cat scratcher plus Feline Lickety Stik!
- Previous winners: enter our Giveaway Gallery!
Don't Miss a Giveaway!


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Supplying Model Makers since 1895
Telephone us on: 01508 549330
Sorry, this product is currently unavailable. Please check back later
Billing Boats Lilla Dan Wooden Model Boat Kit B578
Lilla Dan was built in 1951 at the well-known shipyard in Svendborg, Denmark, by J. Ring Andersen, and constructed mainly of oak and beach. Lilla Dan is owned by the shipping company Lauritzen in Copenhagen and does duty today both as a training ship and for chartered tours.
This kit features: plank on frame construction, laser cut plywood keel and frame components, wooden superstructure and decks, hull and deck fittings in wood, brass and/or plastic, Mast and spars, rigging cord in various sizes and printed sails. Includes Full size plan sheets and an instruction manual with English Text. Billing Boats Level: Experienced
View more products from Billing Boats
E-commerce by Divendo


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Let's face it the 'company news' on most websites is terrible. It is dry, uninspiring and fails to engage users. What then can we do about it?
A while ago I wrote a post entitled "Do users care about your latest news?" In it I quoted an extract from an analytics review which stated that, on the website we were reviewing, only 1% of users clicked on the news stories. This was despite being heavily featured on the homepage.
Strangely in a followup survey we found that over 30% expressed an interest in reading relevant news. The problem is not with the concept of news but with its presentation.
In this post I want to throw out our preconceptions of what news should be and reinvent it as something more relevant, engaging and effective. To do that we need to start by asking why we want news at all.
Why add news to our websites?
As I see it there are four roles news can play on our site:
- To improve search engine positioning. Relevant, well written, and engaging content will help your site rank well on Google. The regular updates will also encourage search engines to spider the site more often.
- To encourage users to link to your site. We hope that people will read our content and share it via social networks and their own sites, so driving more traffic back to us.
- Supporting sales. News has the potential to reinforce the sales messages on your site by demonstrating credibility and effectiveness.
- Provide customer support. News is often seen as a way of providing crucial information to existing customers.
Unfortunately all too often news fails in all four of these roles. Posts are stuffed with terminology no normal person would ever search on and content gives users no reason to share. Instead of news stories supporting sales or existing customers they are often nothing more than self congratulatory press releases.
How then can we approach things differently? How can we make news more effective?
Focus on the user
We need to move away from thinking about what we wish to say and instead ask what users want to hear and what would engage them.
Prospective customers coming to our site are not looking for news. Nobody says; I am thinking of buying X and so will check out their websites news. We need to accept that our audience is indifferent to our news.
The only exception is if you are trying to support an existing customer base. In this case they may well come to your site actively looking for news. However, it is important to realise they are looking for a particular type of news. They are not interested in which clients you have recently signed or awards you have won. They are interested in stories that relate directly to how you are supporting them as a customer.
With this in mind, how does this shape what you write in your news section?
What you should be writing?
Obviously I cannot advise you on the specifics of what you should be writing, but I can suggest some questions you should be asking as you come to write.
Why would a user care?
If you have an idea for a news story it is well worth asking why anybody would be interested in reading it. It's such an obvious question but so often it is not asked. Instead we just jump into broadcasting to the world oblivious to whether people want to hear what we have to say.
It's important that we really consider our answer to this question. It's easy to deceive ourselves into thinking that somebody might be interested when they wouldn't be. It's even easier to write news that we know that one or two people might care about, when in fact the vast majority of visitors will be indifferent.
Why would anybody share this?
Another way of judging the worth of a news story is to ask "would somebody share this?" If one of our objectives is for news to be sharable and linked to, then we need to make sure it is worth sharing.
We should write our news stories in such a way that they are crying out to be shared. They should contain quotes that are less than 140 characters, interesting statistics and inspirational content. Most news stories are too dry to justify the sharing icons they display.
What one message do I want people to take away?
Part of the reason many news stories fail to engage is because they are overly verbose. You need to communicate your key message quickly and move on. Of course to do that, you need to know what that key message is.
One way of identifying this is to ask what the key takeaway is. This will help you get to the core of your message.
What next action do I want users to take?
News stories are of no value in themselves (unless of course you are a news website). They are a means to an end. Either that end is to convince a prospective customer to purchase or to support an existing customer.
In either case you should have a clear idea of what next step that user should take. This will help focus your article on what really matters.
Although these questions will help better focus your content, it is not just content that needs to change in order to make news more effective. It is the format too.
Improving the format of news
In my previous post I suggested that users were becoming blind to news because they expected it to be terrible. If that is the case then simply writing better news stories is not going to be enough. We need to really shake up the appearance and our definition of what news content is.
One organisation who is doing this already (and who I believe we can look to for inspiration) is the University of Surrey.
They do two things that I love.
First, they mix up the format of news. News maybe a traditional written post, but they also use:
- Video.
- Imagery Galleries.
- Image and short captions.
- Quotes.
- Interesting fact.
Second, they mix news with other "snippets" of information about the organisation. As a result, they don't call it news, instead referring to it as a "discover Surrey" section. This makes the content more engaging and less likely users ignore it.
But why stop at what Surrey have done? You could use the same approach, but add more "snippets". For example, what about:
- Staff profiles (show the people behind your organisation).
- Add audio as well as video.
- Add stats that are easy to share.
- Links to content you think your users will like elsewhere on the web.
The list could go on.
My point is that we tend to be narrow minded about what 'news' should be. We don't think beyond a written article (like this one) when actually we could be do much more. It's time we became more creative.
Join 10 others in sharing this post
See also:
- Why say no to the madness of content migration
- 7 ways a great copywriter crafts compelling web copy
- Content Management: How to effectively overcome legacy content


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The Idea Conference 2009
The speakers at this year's Idea Conference shared their views on business innovation.
You don't have to explain to anyone in the marketing industry that the advancements in technology and the state of the economy in the past few years has dramatically changed the way we think, operate and sell brands. The speakers and attendees of the fourth-annual Advertising Age/Creativity Idea Conference, took the day to candidly discuss this shift and what it means moving forward.
Here's what some of the speakers had to say:
Jim Marggraff, Chairman and CEO of LIFESCRIBE, better known as the inventor and creator of the LeapPad Learning System during his tenure at LeapFrog Enterprises, presented his new product: The Lifescribe Pulse Pen. Far more than a pen, this mini super computer is a product, developed in part to combat global illiteracy, was by far the technological "wow" of this event. We all sat in awe as Jim demonstrated how this reinvention of our ballpoint pen is going to forever change the way notes are taken, presentations are given, students learn, and information is shared.
Arkadi Kuhlmann, Chairman and President of ING DIRECT USA says, "If everyone in your industry is doing something—do something else!" By developing cafes with free Internet and online games for kids, ING teaches us that saving money can actually be fun. Their unique marketing efforts should teach other brands that ROI is not always measured in direct response to marketing efforts. If you build a brand loyalty through a unique brand culture, success and sales can follow.
Perry Chen, CEO of KICKSTARTER, a brand new company built to give creative minds the platform to fund ideas and endeavors. "With advancements in technology, we now have more access to the tools we need to create and be creative," Chen said. And now with the help of Kickstarter, ideas can be test marketed and crowd sourced before they are even produced.
Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator, Dept. of Architecture & Design, MOMA explains that her dream is to see designers recognized as intellectuals at the highest level, to be respected for the constructive processes they use and the contributions they make. Designers take technology and transform it into products, a process Paola feels most people do not understand. "People get excited about music and films because they are educated on the development process," she says. One of her latest exhibits called Design and the Elastic Mind, was devoted to teaching the relationship between design and science.
Jane Goldman, VP and Editor-In-Chief, Entertainment & Lifestyle of CBS INTERACTIVE was the driving force behind CHOW, a print turned online publication that chose to take a more honest approach to food media and Chowhound.com, an online community of foodies. Discussed was the difficult task of managing user-generated content and building a community that lives within the intersection of friends and experts. Jane believes that good online media should resemble a cocktail party, "You introduce your friends to people they may find interesting and chances are they will have a conversation," she says.
David Chang, Owner and Executive Chef of MOMOFUKU RESTAURANTS, whose motto is: Go BIG, throw caution to the wind, do what people tell you not to, make mistakes; just don't make the same mistake twice. "Mistakes allow you to be creative and inventive, you become incredibly resourceful when you have nothing to work with," says Chang. On staff and education: "teach through example and experience, no one reads the manual." Another word of advice, "don't try and be authentic – just be delicious."
Sam Calagione, Founder and President of DOGFISH HEAD had to be the crowd favorite by the end of the day – serving beer while he spoke certainly helped. The founder of one of the few craft breweries left in our country explained how having an authentic product that your customers are passionate about, can drive sales without the need for big marketing dollars and media spends. While other brands in the industry try to appeal to everyone, DOGFISH believes in quality over quantity. With the key to their success lying in education, Sam will continue to teach how creative experimentation and passionate product development yields brand advocates.
Contributed by Kristin Ehrgott (@Mindseed)


text: WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN), the global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance their enterprise value, today announced William Berkowitz and Josh Keller, as well as three additional professionals, have joined the firm from Alliance Construction Consultants. They join a distinguished team, including engineers, architects, accountants, quantity surveyors, planning and scheduling specialists, cost engineers, project managers and strategic communications professionals, as part of the firm's Construction Solutions group. Mr. Berkowitz and Mr. Keller are experts in analyzing and resolving construction claims, including schedule delay and impact analysis, quantity surveying and project controls. They will serve as Managing Directors and will be based in the firm's New York office. "We are very pleased to have Alliance joining the Construction Solutions team at FTI Consulting. Alliance is well-known for high-quality construction consulting services, and we are excited about the continuing growth of our construction industry consulting team around the world," said Paul Ficca, Leader of the Construction Solutions group at FTI Consulting. Mr. Berkowitz previously was a Principal and founding member of Alliance Construction Consultants. Since 1988, Mr. Berkowitz has been a professional consultant specializing in construction dispute resolution. He has prepared and presented claims on behalf of general contractors, construction managers and specialty contractors and evaluated and refuted claims on behalf of owners and engineers and contractors. Mr. Berkowitz has had in-depth involvement in all aspects of claims resolution, including pre-contract review of plans and specifications, schedule and delay analysis, damages calculations and preparation of comprehensive reports. Mr. Keller also was a Principal and founding member of Alliance Construction Consultants. Since 1991, Mr. Keller has been a professional consultant specializing in construction dispute resolution and Critical Path Method scheduling. Mr. Keller's areas of expertise include disputes pertaining to additional work, discovered conditions, delay, acceleration, resequencing, loss of labor productivity and contract termination.


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Don't give Paulson a $700,000,000,000 check!
All the politicians are lying about there will be no credit available. Profitable, well run companies can always get investment credit. Look at Warren Buffet putting $5B into Goldman Sacks. Individuals with a good job and credit history will always be able to get credit cards and a reasonable loan. The crisis is actually bringing sanity back to the lending industry. The only people that won't get credit are the one's that don't qualify anyway.
We need to let bad companies fail, even if these means people will be laid off. We will be better of in the end.
For now, the government should just set up about a $100B fund to buy the best bargains in foreclosure market. This should be run by the best experts in real estate not wall street. The will end the real estate bust so the market can recover.
Don't let Paulson have all this money to help his wall street cronies and to keep bad businesses in business. Write to your congress person.


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- Levi's ® 505 Jeans - Rigid Straight Leg
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