text:
|Join hundreds of InfoSec professionals at our upcoming
[Global AppSec DC, September 9-13] and [Global AppSec Amsterdam, September 23-27]
About The Open Web Application Security Project
Last revision (mm/dd/yy): 03/14/2019
- 1 The OWASP Foundation
- 2 Core Values
- 3 Core Purpose
- 4 Code of Ethics
- 5 Principles
- 6 2018 Elected by Membership, Global Board Members
- 7 Employees and Contractors
- 7.1 Interim Executive Director - Mike McCamon
- 7.2 Director, Projects and Technology: Harold Blankenship
- 7.3 Sr. Manager of Sponsorship & Membership: Kelly Santalucia
- 7.4 Community Manager: Dawn Aitken
- 7.5 Manager of Projects and Sponsorship: Lisa Jones
- 7.6 Finance and Administration - Services Provided by: Virtual Management Inc. (Contractor)
- 7.7 Graphic Design: Hugo Costa (Contractor)
- 8 OWASP HR Resources
- 9 Meeting Minutes
- 10 Operational Procedures
- 11 Licensing
- 12 Participation and Membership
- 13 Projects
- 14 Privacy Policy
- 15 Membership or Donations
- 16 Tax Deductability of Payments to OWASP
- 17 Audited Financial Statements
- 18 Form 990 Documents
- 19 Annual Reports
- 20 Annual Budgets
- 21 Other Financial Documents
The OWASP Foundation
The OWASP Foundation came online on December 1st, 2001 it was established as a not-for-profit charitable organization in the United States on April 21, 2004, to ensure the ongoing availability and support for our work at OWASP. OWASP is an international organization and the OWASP Foundation supports OWASP efforts around the world. OWASP is an open community dedicated to enabling organizations to conceive, develop, acquire, operate, and maintain applications that can be trusted. All of the OWASP tools, documents, forums, and chapters are free and open to anyone interested in improving application security. We advocate approaching application security as a people, process, and technology problem because the most effective approaches to application security include improvements in all of these areas. We can be found at www.owasp.org.
OWASP is a new kind of organization. Our freedom from commercial pressures allows us to provide unbiased, practical, cost-effective information about application security. OWASP is not affiliated with any technology company, although we support the informed use of commercial security technology. Similar to many open-source software projects, OWASP produces many types of materials in a collaborative and open way. The OWASP Foundation is a not-for-profit entity that ensures the project's long-term success.
OWASP Foundation Bylaws
The business of the OWASP Foundation Inc. is outlined in the organizational by-laws. These by-laws govern the organization worldwide and allow the participants to understand the established process for doing so.
OWASP EU Foundation ByLaws (English Translation)
Core Values
OPEN Everything at OWASP is radically transparent from our finances to our code.
INNOVATION OWASP encourages and supports innovation and experiments for solutions to software security challenges.
GLOBAL Anyone around the world is encouraged to participate in the OWASP community.
INTEGRITY OWASP is an honest and truthful, vendor neutral, global community.
Core Purpose
Be the thriving global community that drives visibility and evolution in the safety and security of the world's software.
Code of Ethics
Each of us is expected to behave according to the principles contained in the following Code of Ethics. Breaches of the Code of Ethics may result in the foundation taking disciplinary action. Membership Revocation
- Perform all professional activities and duties in accordance with all applicable laws and the highest ethical principles;
- Promote the implementation of and promote compliance with standards, procedures, controls for application security;
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality of proprietary or otherwise sensitive information encountered in the course of professional activities;
- Discharge professional responsibilities with diligence and honesty;
- To communicate openly and honestly;
- Refrain from any activities which might constitute a conflict of interest or otherwise damage the reputation of employers, the information security profession, or the Association;
- To maintain and affirm our objectivity and independence;
- To reject inappropriate pressure from industry or others;
- Not intentionally injure or impugn the professional reputation of practice of colleagues, clients, or employers;
- Treat everyone with respect and dignity; and
- To avoid relationships that impair — or may appear to impair — OWASP's objectivity and independence.
- Free & Open
- Governed by rough consensus & running code
- Abide by a code of ethics (see ethics)
- Not-for-profit
- Not driven by commercial interests
- Risk-based approach
2018 Elected by Membership, Global Board Members
Martin Knobloch: Chairman
The Chairman of the Board shall serve as the principal executive officer of the Foundation.
Fiduciary responsibilities: He/She shall, in general, supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Foundation. He/She will monitor financial planning and financial reports He/She or he may sign, with the Secretary or any other proper officer of the Foundation thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Foundation or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed;
Leadership and Direction: provides leadership to the Board of Directors with regards to policy setting and strategic planning. He/She helps guide and mediate board actions with respect to organizational priorities and governance concerns, and in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chairman of the Board subject to the control of the Board of Directors.
Organizational Responsibilities: He/She plays a leading role in fundraising activities, formally evaluate the performance of the Foundation Director and informally evaluate the effectiveness of the board members. An annual, overall evaluation of the performance of the organization in achieving its mission will be accomplished. He or she shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors unless otherwise delegated, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Owen Pendlebury: Vice Chairman
Performs Chair responsibilities when the Chair cannot be available, works closely with Chair and other Board Members, participates closely with Chair to develop and implement officer transition plans, performs other responsibilities as assigned by the Board.
Sherif Mansour: Treasurer
Treasurer manages finances of the organization, administers fiscal matters of the organization, provides annual budget to the board for member's approval, ensures development and board review of financial policies and procedures.
Ofer Maor: Secretary
Maintains records of the board and ensures effective management of organization's records, manages minutes of board meetings, ensures minutes are distributed shortly after each meeting, is sufficiently familiar with legal documents (articles, bylaws, IRS letters, etc.) to note applicability during meetings; is the custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Foundation and see that the seal of the Foundation is affixed to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Foundation under its seal is duly authorized; keeps a register of the post office address of each Director which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such Director; and, in general perform all duties incident to the office of the Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Chairman of the Board or by the Board.
Richard Greenberg: Member at Large
Gary Robinson: Member at Large
Chenxi Wang: Member at Large
Employees and Contractors
Interim Executive Director - Mike McCamon
The Executive Director is ultimately responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the organization.
Director, Projects and Technology: Harold Blankenship
- Based in Texas - USA
- Key areas of responsibility: Assists the Executive Director as needed to direct, plan, and manage the organization's information systems, infrastructure, and IT policies to ensure the operation and availability of IT resources within the organization. Also responsible for the oversight of the OWASP Projects operational infrastructure that provides support to the project leaders within the organization, including oversight of processes, policies, and procedures that enable OWASP's Project Leaders and contributors to successfully run their projects.
Sr. Manager of Sponsorship & Membership: Kelly Santalucia
- Based in New Jersey - USA
- Key areas of responsibility: Individual and Corporate Memberships, Sponsorships & Advertising.
- Job Description: To Be Posted
Community Manager: Dawn Aitken
- Based in New Jersey - USA
- Key areas of responsibility: Attracting, motivating and retaining volunteers and security professionals to contribute to the OWASP Chapter community; Customer service and data management.
- Job Description: OWASP Community Manager
Manager of Projects and Sponsorship: Lisa Jones
- Based in New Jersey - USA
- Key areas of responsibility: Sponsorship fulfillment, logistics, collections and other duties. Project administrative duties assisting Harold Blankenship with OWASP Projects.
- Job Description: To Be Posted
Finance and Administration - Services Provided by: Virtual Management Inc. (Contractor)
Graphic Design: Hugo Costa (Contractor)
- Based in Portugal
- Key areas of responsibility: Graphic Design
- Job Description: OWASP Graphic Designer
OWASP HR Resources
- OWASP Foundation Employee Handbook
- Employee and Contractor Annual Review Process, Employee Self Review and Supervisor Review Form, Employee Peer Review Form
- OWASP Conflict of Interest Policy and Annual Questionnaire
- OWASP Whistleblower & Anti-Retaliation Policy
- Additional staff and HR info
Meeting Minutes
The OWASP Foundation Board meets monthly.
Board meeting minutes for the record.
Operational Procedures
Standard Operations Procedures (SOP)
All OWASP materials are available under an approved FLOSS license. For more information, please see the OWASP Licenses page.
Participation and Membership
Everyone is welcome to participate in our forums, projects, chapters, and conferences. OWASP is a fantastic place to learn about application security, to network, and even to build your reputation as an expert.
If you find the OWASP materials valuable, please consider supporting our cause by becoming an OWASP member. All monies received by the OWASP Foundation go directly into supporting OWASP projects.
For more information, please see the Membership page.
OWASP's projects cover many aspects of application security. We build documents, tools, teaching environments, guidelines, checklists, and other materials to help organizations improve their capability to produce secure code.
For details on all the OWASP projects, please see the OWASP Project page.
Privacy Policy
Given OWASP's mission to help organizations with application security, you have the right to expect protection of any personal information that we might collect about our members.
In general, we do not require authentication or ask visitors to reveal personal information when visiting our website. We collect Internet addresses, not the e-mail addresses, of visitors solely for use in calculating various website statistics.
We may ask for certain personal information, including name and email address from persons downloading OWASP products. This information is not divulged to any third party and is used only for the purposes of:
- Communicating urgent fixes in the OWASP Materials
- Seeking advice and feedback about OWASP Materials
- Inviting participation in OWASP's consensus process and AppSec conferences
OWASP publishes a list of member organizations and individual members. Listing is purely voluntary and "opt-in." Listed members can request not to be listed at any time.
All information about you or your organization that you send us by fax or mail is physically protected. If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy policy, please Contact Us
Membership or Donations
If you are interested in joining OWASP as a member, or donating funds for OWASP's efforts, please check out the OWASP Membership Page.
The OWASP Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Bel Air, MD. Our federal ID number for donations is: #20-0963503. We also have a European Entity - OWASP Europe VZW, based in Belgium.
Tax Deductability of Payments to OWASP
OWASP membership fees, OWASP conferences fees, OWASP conference sponsorships, and advertising opportunities are not considered tax-deductible donations due to the benefits the paying organization/individual receives. Direct donations to OWASP are fully tax-deductible given OWASP's recognized U.S. not-for-profit status. OWASP's U.S. Employer Identification Number (EIN) is: 20-0963503.
Audited Financial Statements
OWASP Foundation Audited Financial Statement - 2013
OWASP Foundation Audited Financial Statement - 2010.
OWASP Foundation Audited Financial Statement - 2007.
Form 990 Documents
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation - 2017
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation - 2016
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2015
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2014
Form 990-OWASP Foundation-2013 and Form 990T-OWASP Foundation-2013
Form 990 OWASP Foundation – 2012 and Form 990T OWASP Foundation – 2012
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2011
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2010
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2009
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2008
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2007
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2006
Form 990 & 990T OWASP Foundation – 2005
Annual Reports
Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Report
Note: 2015 was the last year that the OWASP Foundation created and published an annual report.
Annual Budgets
OWASP Foundation Budget - 2018
OWASP Foundation Budget - 2015
OWASP Foundation Budget - 2014
OWASP Foundation Budget - 2013
OWASP Foundation Budget - 2012
OWASP Foundation - Global Committee Budgets - 2011
Other Financial Documents
OWASP Foundation Proof of Tax Exempt Status
NY State Tax Exemption Certificate
OWASP Foundation - Monthly P & L Reports
Contacting OWASP
The easiest way to contact the OWASP Foundation is via e-mail. If you have a question concerning a particular project, we strongly recommend using the mailing list for that project. Many questions can also be answered by searching the OWASP web site, so please check there first.
Our global address for general correspondence and faxes can be sent to our physical office address, at:
OWASP Foundation 1200-C Agora Drive, #232 Bel Air, MD 21014 US +1 951-692-7703 (phone) +1 443-283-4021 (fax) Contact Us
The European correspondence address is below. More information is available on the OWASP Europe page.
OWASP Europe VZW Leinstraat 104A B-9660 Opbrakel Belgium Contact Us
For more information, please see the pages listed below:
- Contributions for details about how to make contributions
- Advertising if you're interested in advertising on the OWASP site
- How OWASP Works for more information about projects and governance
- OWASP brand usage rules for information about using the OWASP brand
- About OWASP Presentation (Google Docs)


text:
Bold, abstract shapes and colour define Intrepid. This piece makes a stunning statement in any space, and looks surprisingly good in kids' rooms.
Our prints are professionally printed on premium heavyweight silk or matte art paper, using highest quality inks for beautiful colour resolution.
Orders are shipped within 2 business days.
Purchase is for print only – frames are not included.
Our prints are available in variety of sizes, to fit widely available, standard, ready-made frames.
ISO standard "A" sizes:
A4 - 210 x 297 mm / 8.3" x 11.7"
A3 - 297 x 420 mm / 11.7" x 16.5"
IKEA standard frame sizes:
40 x 50 cm / 15.7" x 19.7"
50 x 70cm / 19.7" x 27.5"
61 x 91 cm / 24" x 35.8"
Orders are carefully packed in sturdy mailers and shipped from Melbourne within 2 business days, via Australia Post.
Flat rate shipping: Australia $4.90, Rest of World $8.90 - $14.90. Free shipping is available for all domestic orders $90+.
A4 and A3 sized prints are professionally printed on premium low sheen silk, or matte, heavyweight 200gsm paper. 40 x 50cm and larger sizes are professionally printed on premium matte 200gsm art paper.
Colour is printed to the edge of the paper, leaving no white border for beautiful, seamless framing. Some slight colour variation in the end product may occur from what you see on your screen due to differences in the way monitors view colour.
We are happy to accommodate custom colour and size requests. Please email your requirements to email@example.com for a quote.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
An archived forum for Backyard Wrestling.
3rd Aug 2006, 19:13
6th Jun 2006, 18:01
© 2016 SQUARE ENIX LTD. All Rights Reserved
SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
Square Enix Limited, Registered in England No. 01804186 Registered office: 240 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NW.


text:
Juniper buys Mykonos to beat off web app attacks
The art of deception
Juniper has bought web application security firm Mykonos Software in a deal valued at around $80m (£51m) in cash.
Mykonos develops technology designed to secure websites and web applications from advanced hacker attacks. The software uses "deception-based technology' that uses honeypotting to detect and divert attacks.
The software sits in front of your apps and embeds triggers that escalate responses based on attacks, according to an explanation of the technology by Juniper's cloud security guru Christofer Hoff, who claimed the software needs minimal configuration.
Mykonos describes its technology as Intrusion Deception Systems, distinct from Web Application Firewalls (WAF), a category of security products that has earned something of a bad rep. One of the main reasons WAF tech proved tricky was because it needed to have knowledge of applications to work without disrupting existing services, creating all sorts of implementation headaches.
A blog post by Juniper, which contains more than a little marketing hyperbole, goes on to explain how Mykonos' software thwarts attacks.
By creating detection points that can identify attackers at the onset of an attack, the technology can detect and evaluate the threat level of malicious activity, and respond automatically with threat-appropriate counter measures.
Mykonos provides device level tracking, beyond the IP address, which allows for attackers to be uniquely identified, monitored and/or blocked. It can catch an attack in progress, profile the attacker, learn the attacker's behavior and sophistication, and then use that behavior to thwart future attacks.
Juniper aims to use the technology to go on the offensive against hackers as well as making systems protected by Mykonos too much trouble and effort to crack into for profit-motivated cybercrooks. ®


text:
Join Theo Prudon and Graham Balkany, leader of the 2009 international preservation campaign to save Chicago's Michael Reese Hospital as a newly attributed work of Walter Gropius, in a discussion of the synergy between research discoveries and advocacy for understudied and underappreciated modernist buildings. Members of DOCOMOMO, preservationists, historians, and enthusiasts of modernism are invited
to share accounts of research that has come to the rescue of "non-iconic" modernism.
DOCOMOMO US at the Society of Architectural Historians Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, Columbian Room
April 23, 2010, 12 - 1:30pm
Theo Prudon, President, DOCOMOMO US, Facilitator
Registration: Free for attendees of the SAH Conference. A conference day rate is available for $75 and can be paid on site. SAH Registration: www.sah.org/index.php?
Space available for interested students, please contact: email@example.com.


text:
I just posted the blog below on Curriki. Given the topic, I thought many Literacy is Priceless readers would enjoy it as well. To see the original post, click here.
[tweetmeme]A colleague of mine recently sent me the Mashable post, "#10Ways to Support Charities Through Social Media". As a follow-up, I thought it would be fun to create a list specific to Open Education Resources (OERs). So, here it goes…
- Write a blog post about OERs—If you find a great free and open education resource on sites like Curriki, OER Commonsand Flat World Knowledge, write a short post about it! Teachers are always looking for great free classroom content online that has been endorsed by a fellow educator!
- Share OER stories with friends—If you've written a blog about OERs, post a link to the entry on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Delicious, or Google Buzz. Or, just post a link to the resource itself. Curriki makes this process easy! Open any resource on Curriki and click on the "Share" button at the top of the page. This will allow you to share the gift of free lessons with your social networks in a click!
- Follow OERs on Twitter and Facebook—We tweet @Curriki. To find other OER tweeters, go to Twitter Search and type in #OER. Many OERs have Facebook fan pages as well.
- Support OERs on Awareness Hubs—Several websites have popped up to support non-profits in their work. Take a look at Facebook Causes, iGive and iSearch to start!
- Find Volunteer Opportunities—OERs are always looking for enthusiastic educators to share their knowledge with classrooms around the world. When you visit an OER like Curriki, Connexions or FreeReading, most have explicit information on how you can donate lessons, expertise and time from the comfort of your own classroom or home. Check out the Curriki donate page to start!
- Embed an OER Badge on Your Site—Feel good about connecting teachers in need of high quality online content with great OERs by putting a widget or badge on your blog, website, Facebook page and more.
- Organize a Tweetup—Meet OER fans offline at events like the upcoming Communia Workshop in Turkey or the ISTE Conference in Denver. Or, create an event in your hometown. For tips on how to organize a successful tweetup, check outMashable's guide to tweetups.
- Talk about your love of OERs on Video—Then post the video on YouTube, Vimeo and other online video services. Even though the OER movement is growing stronger by the second, many people don't know about it. Connect great teachers with great free content. Spread the word about OERs!
- Petition for the use and creation of OERs in your School Districts—I am always surprised when I meet with schools districts unaware about OERs (especially the cost savings of OERs!) or districts that don't allow teachers to put district-created lesson plans online open source (Wouldn't a teacher in Cambodia benefit from a math resource from your district or county and vise versa?! Were tax dollars used to create that content?! Hmm!). Use tools like Petition Online and Twitition to rally for the use and sharing of OERs within your district and beyond!
- Organize an Online Event—Invite your friends to a tweet-a-thon and tell them to tweet great OERs to the world during a specific time period with a hashtags like #OER or #IloveOERs!
Social media is the perfect tool for spreading great ideas. Tell Curriki how you are using social media to support the OER movement by posting a comment on the Curriki blog, this blog or by sending a tweet to @Curriki.
From one OER fan to another,
Anna Batchelder
Founder, Bon Education
Note: The image above was created by Fred Cavazza and is licensed under the CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License.


text:
H.M.S Challenger, 1858
Image from Wikipedia
Drawings from the
Report on the Foraminifera dredged by H.M.S. Challenger
during the Years 1873-1876.
by Henry B. Brady, F.R.S., F.L.S., F.G.S., &c. 1884.
Most of the collected specimens reside in the
HMS Challenger collection of the
Natural History Museum London
The scans are made by
Dr. David Bossard
and used by his permission.
© Dr. David C. Bossard, 19thcenturyscience.org.


text:
5-7-11 PNC Park
Before heading to PNC Park, Amy and I went to Color Me Mine in Squirrel Hill.
Once inside, one picks out a piece to paint.
There is a guide to the colors hanging above the paint. The shade on
the left is one coat, and the shade on the right of each color is three
Amy and I chose a piggy bank to make for our daughter, due in early August.
Amy and I painted the pig together. She pained the body of the pig.
And I worked on the front.
After we got the pig just like we wanted it, I detailed in purple our daughter's name on one side of the piggy bank.
This was the end result:
On the other side I wrote her year of birth, 2011.
And here's the face I painted:
It's going to be fired in a kiln and we'll pick it up next week!
After that it was off to PNC Park. It began raining at 3:50. It never rained more than a drizzle, and it drizzled for about 10 minutes. This was just enough for the PNC Park groundscrew to decide to cancel batting practice for the day.
To pass the time, I played catch with Nick Pelescak and Zac Weiss on the bridge.
Always a good time.
Of course, since there was no batting practice going on, there wasn't much to do, so I went over behind the Astros pitchers when they came out. On my way over, I found my first ball of the day in the seats along the right field foul line.
It was likely left over from the Pirates batting practice, because they had been hitting before the light drizzle started.
Here's the Astros doing some light running:
When they came out, Wilton Lopez tossed Enerio Del Rosario's glove into the stands. I took his glove, and Wilton Lopez and I made an exchange.
Lopez was confused by the string, so I just told him I use it for extra padding. Thanks to Nick Pelescak for the picture.
Later, when the Astros were done throwing, Lopez tossed me his warm up ball, my second one of the day.
Afterwards, I walked around for a bit.
There ended up being 32,000 fans at this game, so there wasn't any chance for toss up balls from the outfielders, so I ended with two balls.
Today's baseballs:
Sweet spots:
Game: 2 balls (1 thrown, 1 found)
Season: 83 balls (31 hit, 20 thrown, 21 device, 11 found)
Games: 14 games
Average: 5.93 balls per game
Career: 1,205 balls
Attendance: 32,299


text:
Henan (Chinese: 河南; pinyin: Hénán; Wade-Giles: Ho-nan), is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is 豫 (pinyin: yù), named after Yuzhou Province (豫州 Yù Zhōu), a Han Dynasty province (zhou) that included parts of Henan. The name Henan means "south of the (Yellow) River" (Huang He).
With nearly 100 million people, Henan is the most populous province of China by residency. It borders Hebei to the north, Shandong to the northeast, Anhui to the southeast, Hubei to the south, Shaanxi to the west, and Shanxi to the northwest.
Henan is often called Zhongyuan (中原 zhōngyuán) or Zhongzhou (中州 zhōngzhōu), literally "central plains" or "midland"; this name is also broadly applied to the entire North China Plain. Henan is traditionally regarded as the cradle of Chinese civilization.
Learn more:
See it:
http://www.webshots.com/search?query=He ... romeheader


text:
This example shows how to use regularized deconvolution to deblur images. Regularized deconvolution can be used effectively when constraints are applied on the recovered image (e.g., smoothness) and limited information is known about the additive noise. The blurred and noisy image is restored by a constrained least square restoration algorithm that uses a regularized filter.
The example reads in an RGB image and crops it to be 256-by-256-by-3. The deconvreg function can handle arrays of any dimension.
I = imread('tissue.png'); I = I(125+(1:256),1:256,:); f1 = figure; imshow(I); figure(f1); title('Original Image'); text(size(I,2),size(I,1)+15, ... 'Image courtesy of Alan Partin, Johns Hopkins University', ... 'FontSize',7,'HorizontalAlignment','right');
Simulate a real-life image that could be blurred (e.g., due to camera motion or lack of focus) and noisy (e.g., due to random disturbances). The example simulates the blur by convolving a Gaussian filter with the true image (using imfilter). The Gaussian filter represents a point-spread function, PSF.
PSF = fspecial('gaussian',11,5); Blurred = imfilter(I,PSF,'conv'); f2 = figure; imshow(Blurred); figure(f2); title('Blurred');
We simulate the noise by adding a Gaussian noise of variance V to the blurred image (using imnoise).
V = .02; BlurredNoisy = imnoise(Blurred,'gaussian',0,V); f3 = figure; imshow(BlurredNoisy); figure(f3); title('Blurred & Noisy');
Restore the blurred and noisy image supplying noise power, NP, as the third input parameter. To illustrate how sensitive the algorithm is to the value of noise power, NP, the example performs three restorations.
The first restoration, reg1, uses the true NP. Note that the example outputs two parameters here. The first return value, reg1, is the restored image. The second return value, LAGRA, is a scalar, Lagrange multiplier, on which the deconvreg has converged. This value is used later in the example.
NP = V*numel(I); % noise power [reg1, LAGRA] = deconvreg(BlurredNoisy,PSF,NP); f4 = figure; imshow(reg1); figure(f4); title('Restored with NP');
The second restoration, reg2, uses a slightly over-estimated noise power, which leads to a poor resolution.
reg2 = deconvreg(BlurredNoisy,PSF,NP*1.3);
f5 = figure;
title('Restored with larger NP');
The third restoration, reg3, is given an under-estimated NP value. This leads to an overwhelming noise amplification and "ringing" from the image borders.
reg3 = deconvreg(BlurredNoisy,PSF,NP/1.3);
f6 = figure;
title('Restored with smaller NP');
Reduce the noise amplification and "ringing" along the boundary of the image by calling the edgetaper function prior to deconvolution. Note how the image restoration becomes less sensitive to the noise power parameter. Use the noise power value NP from the previous example.
Edged = edgetaper(BlurredNoisy,PSF);
reg4 = deconvreg(Edged,PSF,NP/1.3);
f7 = figure;
title('Edgetaper effect');
Restore the blurred and noisy image, assuming that the optimal solution is already found and the corresponding Lagrange multiplier, LAGRA, is given. In this case, any value passed for noise power, NP, is ignored.
To illustrate how sensitive the algorithm is to the LAGRA value, the example performs three restorations. The first restoration (reg5) uses the LAGRA output from the earlier solution (LAGRA output from first solution in Step 3).
reg5 = deconvreg(Edged,PSF,[],LAGRA);
f8 = figure;
title('Restored with LAGRA');
The second restoration (reg6) uses 100*LAGRA which increases the significance of the constraint. By default, this leads to over-smoothing of the image.
reg6 = deconvreg(Edged,PSF,[],LAGRA*100);
f9 = figure;
title('Restored with large LAGRA');
The third restoration uses LAGRA/100 which weakens the constraint (the smoothness requirement set for the image). It amplifies the noise and eventually leads to a pure inverse filtering for LAGRA = 0.
reg7 = deconvreg(Edged,PSF,[],LAGRA/100);
f10 = figure;
title('Restored with small LAGRA');
Restore the blurred and noisy image using a different constraint (REGOP) in the search for the optimal solution. Instead of constraining the image smoothness (REGOP is Laplacian by default), constrain the image smoothness only in one dimension (1-D Laplacian).
reg8 = deconvreg(BlurredNoisy,PSF,[],LAGRA,REGOP);
f11 = figure;
title('Constrained by 1D Laplacian');
deconvblind |
deconvlucy |
deconvreg |


text:
Tough opening weekend on the gridiron
An undermanned Chugiak football squad lost its season opener 34-12 to West Valley Saturday night in Fairbanks, while the Eagle River Wolves were run over by the defending state runner-up South at Anchorage Football Stadium.
Mustangs coach Duncan Shackelford said his team — which suited just 23 varsity players — couldn't deal with the Wolfpack's ability to rotate in fresh players on offense and defense.
"The kids were in shape, but not in shape to play in 70 degrees against a platoon team," Shackelford said by phone after the game. "West Valley's a good football team."
Chugiak led after the first quarter and trailed just 14-6 at halftime.
Sophomore running back Josh Capers had a huge debut for Chugiak (0-1 overall, 0-0 Cook Inlet Conference), scoring both touchdowns and rushing for 108 yards on just 16 carries.
"Josh had a great game," Shackelford said.
Larenzo Graham scored twice for West Valley (1-0), which tied for first place last season in the Railbelt Conference.
In Anchorage, Eagle River fell victim to a powerful South team that raced out to a 53-6 lead at halftime.
Jeavonte Dunn caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from Peter Kott in the second quarter to provide the lone bright spot for Eagle River, which fell to 0-1 overall and in the CIC.
Following the game, Eagle River coach Jason Brewer took the blame for his team's lopsided loss.
"I didn't prepare them well enough," Brewer said.
Chugiak returns to action Friday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. in the home opener at Tom Huffer Sr. Stadium. Eagle River will host West on Saturday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.
Chugiak 6 0 6 0— 12
W.Valley 0 14 14 7 — 35
First Quarter
Chugiak—Capers 9 run (kick failed), 8:30.5
Second Quarter
West Valley—Cummings 15 run (Hinz kick), 10:52.0
West Valley—Graham 33 run (Hinz kick), 3:33.7
Third Quarter
West Valley—Connell 46 pass from Plass (Hinz kick), 10:08.4
Chugiak—Capers 2 run (run failed), 6:37.1
West Valley_Anderson 30 run (Hinz kick), 2:43.0
Fourth Quarter
West Valley—Graham 4 run (Hinz kick), 1:11.3
First Downs 6 10
Rushes-Yards 31-131 41-219
Comp-Att-Int 3-9-0 3-7-0
Passing yards 48 71
Return yards 117 56
Punts-Avg 6-29.8 2-36.5
Fumbles-Lost 5-2 1-0
Penalties-Yards 3-25 9-64
RUSHING — Chugiak: Capers 16-108, Rohde 4-28, Timberlake 3-7, Brownlee 1-3, Carnahan 1-1, Mayhew 6-(-16). West Valley: Anderson 13-94, Cummings 15-84, Graham 9-56, Plass 4-(-15).
PASSING — Chugiak: Mayhew 3-9-0-48. West Valley: Plass 3-6-0-71, Hinz 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — Chugiak: Oldenkamp 2-40, Boone 1-8. West Valley: Sudduth 2-25, Connell 1-46.


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|The new year marks the creation of a science section at The Huffington Post . The Internet newspaper's editor-in-chief, Arianna Huffington discusses the story selection and vetting process. And why the launch coincides with what she calls the explosion of medieval thinking .


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The Ignominy of Having Someone Sleep Through Your Pitch...
Fund: Mobius Venture Capital
Posted by marca on 2010-04-04
This was a few years ago and was for my previous company. In retrospect, it was one of the funniest things that happened to us though it really did not feel funny at that time. We pitched to this one senior associate who I do not think is with the firm anymore and he actually just nodded off on us. Since he was the only one in the meeting from the fund, we really did not know what to do - were we to pick up our things and just leave? Were we to nudge him and wake him up? Was quite a confidence buster. It all worked out well for us in the end in terms of a good exit for the company so the idea probably was not that bad but this was not cool. The least I believe someone who calls you in should do is to stay awake !!!PRIVATE: Members Only


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A Day of Pampering in the Wairakei Tourist Park
Package up some 'you' time in the Wairakei Tourist Park. There are some great relaxing and pampering things to do.
Package up some 'you' time in the Wairakei Tourist Park. There are some great relaxing and pampering things to do.
Experience a hidden paradise of birdlife, punga filled gardens, culture and unrivalled facilities with a stay at Wairakei Resort Hotel. The Resort enjoys a wonderful historic & relaxing atmosphere set in the Wairakei Tourist Park.
Enjoy lunch at the Fairways Café or book to dine at the Pavilion Restaurant – the hotel's signature restaurant – it's more than a taste sensation, it's an event which involves all five senses!
Pamper your senses with a Huka Falls River Cruise on the Waikato River that takes you to the base of Huka Falls to take in nature's great work. Experience the crystal clear water, abundant birdlife and the riverbanks lined with native bush.
Finish the day at the Wairakei Terraces and Thermal Health Spa. The waters and clays of Wairakei were highly valued by Maori for their healing powers and therapeutic benefits. Visitors can now bathe in a series of hot thermal pools rich in minerals, uniquely situated below magnificent silica terraces, leaving you warm long after you have left the water. Combine a soak with the massage therapies available and you will leave feeling revitalised.


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Second-year pro Jared Crick will replace the suspended Antonio Smith in the lineup against the Chargers. Smith, who got sidelined by the NFL for a retaliatory act in a preseason scuffle with Miami's Richie Incognito, is barred from being around the team this week, but Kubiak let him address the Texans Friday.
"That was the last day he could be with us," the coach said. "He let them know he'd take care of his business and that he expected them to take care of theirs. We've got a good player to replace him. The team has a lot of confidence in Jared."
Captains to be named Saturday
Kubiak said he'll hold off announcing the Texans' offensive, defensive and special-teams captains until Saturday morning. Normally it's done on Friday for a Sunday opener. This is the first time the Texans have ever opened on a Monday night. Additional captains are named at midseason.


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Nice work! Enjoy the show!
Link Copied!
How Trump's phone call changed Syrian war
Opening Sequence
Trump admits to looking at possible tax cuts
Pompeo: ISIS staging a rebound in some areas
Trump says he 'doesn't buy' Tlaib's tears
Trump still eyeing deep foreign aid cuts
British PM sets the stage for a Brexit showdown
Sargasso turtles threatened by high levels of microplastic
Thai firefighter finds solace in snake catching
World in Pictures
Closing Sequence


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This question already has an answer here:
- How To Enable WebGL In Chrome On Ubuntu? 5 answers
I am currently running Ubuntu 12.04 and in Windows 7 on my ATI Mobility Radeon 4300 series graphics card WebGL and hardware acceleration worked perfectly fine. Now on Ubuntu 12.04 I have tried both the open-source drivers and the FGLRX drivers and it no longer works. Could somebody please help? I use Google Chrome 18


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Meet a population considered more affluent and healthier than any other generation before them. Meet the Baby Boomers. Sixty-five million of them are expected to be 55 years old to 70 years old by the year 2015. The health and wellness needs of this aging group go way beyond aquatics workouts and chair aerobics classes. This group does not see themselves as getting old like their parents. They are a diverse population that varies in age, abilities and experience. Most of them are interested in preventive care and are taking a proactive step by attending your facility. You must be creative in the programming you offer for them and how you launch that programming and market it to this group. Most of all, you must be proactive in managing your programming for this growing population.
Here are some suggestions about how to attract in this large and aging market:
Launch Boomer programming with a health fair. Reach out to Baby Boomers by holding a health and wellness fair to which you invite medical professionals and community leaders. At the fair, gather intelligence on this audience by asking for their input in a survey. Ask them about formatting, the scheduling of classes and the importance of programming that targets them. Plan a Boomer educational area, supplying information on medical as well as exercise issues for the population. Hand out packets or goodie bags that include information on these topics. Continue to focus on health and wellness by scheduling monthly educational seminars or lunch-and-learns, which are a great way to invite guests to the facility that have similar interests to your growing Boomer population.
Hire leaders rather than teachers. Once you have peaked interest and scheduled programming, you need to hire a true leader to coach the group. The leader must take charge of attendance, recognizing absences, illnesses and excuses. The leader must be in tune with the entire group's needs daily, planning programming that is focused on an experience rather than a calorie burn. The leader must be willing to pull all students into the game plan and may be asked to socialize with students before and after the scheduled class time. The leader truly manages the programming rather than just teaching a class format.
Schedule workout times that accommodate the population's needs. Schedule your programming options mid-day and into the afternoon. The semi-retired age group has little need to get kids to a bus or to head out into rush hour traffic. The most popular times for classes and seminars are before lunch. Eating as a group is often this group's cool down portion of the workout.
Plan interactive workouts and encourage the sense of belonging. Formats that include interaction and group dynamics will encourage a sense of belonging and play. Many instructors, coaches and trainers will ask the group to line up in a specific formation, then have participants intertwine, snake through, pass by and even circle one another rather than have students just face the instructor or front of the room. Some of the most popular moves include making a conga line and doing country line dance steps.
Plan sport-specific programs from their childhood. People in this generation typically played more than one sport in their youth. Outdoor play, games and competitions while at the gym remind aging Boomers of the fun they miss. Coaches can use themed music and plan easy-to-follow swings, kicks, dribbles and such throughout the workout. Plan field trips to a ballgame or bowling alley. You also can form teams and put together seasonal challenges in which teams play for points and prizes.
Design a system of member follow-up. Follow-up is made easier with today's technology, and Boomers are savvy about emailing, blogging and texting. Unlike their parents, today's 60-year-old is able to use all of today's networking resources, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Constant Contact. Create a newsletter and blog site and then have a student head up the networking group within your club walls. Host Boomer Appreciation Days and award those who have perfect attendance in classes or at seminars. Follow up with bulletin boards that show photos of new grandkids, travel adventures and retirement plans. Having a culture of socialization will be the key to your programming's success.
Purchase props rather than equipment. When budgeting and launching your Boomer programming, purchase some props instead of exercise equipment. Although light weights and tubing will be standard in studios, think outside the box and add balloons, small soft balls, hats, musical instruments and interactive games, like Twister, to your arsenal.
Help Boomers feel safe, stable and social. The heart of your programming must include safe and effective exercise formatting. The fear of falling and the fear of not doing something correctly are two of the main reasons the aging population stays away from your fitness facilities. Overcome these fears by training professionals to put the student first and foremost and to plan the workouts to include regressions as well as progressions. Keeping the movements easy to follow and recognizable will assist in decreasing the fears associated with the group classes. Making sure everyone fits in, takes a part and is noticed will create the culture of fun you seek.
Ann Gilbert, director of fitness for Shapes Total Fitness for Women, leads a team of more than 350 fitness professionals. She is a well-known presenter and has received the IHRSA/ACE Trainer of the Year award. For the past 10 years, Gilbert has served as a faculty board member for the Fitness Academy, an internal educational resource for continuing education. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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QIAGEN Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results
- Delivering solid results in third quarter of 2012: Net sales rise 10% CER (+5% reported) to $304.3 million on growth in all customer classes; adjusted diluted EPS at $0.26 per share
- Reaffirming full-year outlook for net sales and adjusted earnings growth in 2012
- Making significant progress during 2012 on initiatives to drive innovation and growth:
- Driving platform success: QIAsymphony placements gaining momentum, set to achieve goal of more than 750 installed systems by the end of 2012
- Adding content: Expanding Personalized Healthcare leadership with new Bayer collaboration, U.S. launch of therascreen KRAS companion diagnostic test well under way
- Broadening geographic presence: Top seven emerging markets growing at a rapid pace with Q3 2012 net sales up 19% CER, representing 12% of total QIAGEN sales
- Free cash flow rises 17% to $49 million in third quarter of 2012 over year-ago period
- Improving shareholder returns with launch of $100 million repurchase program
- Strengthening financial capabilities to support global business expansion with successful completion of $400 million U.S. private placement issue
Venlo, The Netherlands, November 4, 2012 - QIAGEN N.V. (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) announced results of operations for the third quarter and first nine months of 2012, delivering a solid performance and ongoing progress on initiatives to drive innovation and growth.
In the third quarter of 2012, net sales grew 10% at constant exchange rates, or CER, (+5% on a reported basis) to $304.3 million from the same period in 2011 on expansion in all customer classes and geographic regions. Adjusted operating income rose at a faster pace (+12%) to $83.7 million in the third quarter of 2012, as the adjusted operating income margin rose to 28% of net sales from 26% in the 2011 quarter. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) were $0.26, up from $0.24 in the 2011 period. In October, QIAGEN also completed a $400 million U.S. private placement debt offering that strengthens its long-term financial position, and began its previously announced $100 million share repurchase program.
"We are pleased to report another quarter with double-digit sales growth at constant exchange rates and higher adjusted operating income, and to reaffirm our full-year outlook. Our ongoing focus on growth drivers - including new products and acquisitions, our rollout of the QIAsymphony platform and expansion in rapidly growing emerging markets - are paying off with an improved performance and building momentum," said Peer M. Schatz, Chief Executive Officer of QIAGEN N.V. "All regions and customer classes contributed to growth in the third quarter. QIAGEN's strong financial position enabled us to complete a private placement on favorable terms and to launch our previously announced share repurchase program. We believe our initiatives to drive growth and innovation at a faster pace are gaining momentum, all based on our strategy to leverage our leadership in Sample & Assay Technologies across all customer classes."
Third quarter 2012 results
Third quarter
In $ millions, except per share information
Net sales
Operating income, adjusted
Net income, adjusted
Diluted EPS, adjusted
For information on the adjusted figures, please refer to the reconciliation table accompanying this release.
All customer classes and geographic regions contributed to sales growth of 10% CER in the third quarter of 2012. Sales added by the acquisitions of Cellestis, Ipsogen and AmniSure provided seven percentage points of the CER growth in the quarter, while the rest of the QIAGEN portfolio added three percentage points of CER growth. (The Cellestis acquisition reached its one-year anniversary on August 28, 2012, and the Ipsogen anniversary was July 12, 2012; AmniSure was acquired May 3, 2012.) Currency movements had a negative impact of five percentage points on reported growth.
Operating income rose 14% to $39.0 million in the third quarter of 2012 from $34.3 million in the 2011 quarter. Adjusted operating income, which excludes items such as restructuring and acquisition-related costs, share-based compensation and amortization of intangible assets, rose 12% to $83.7 million from $74.8 million in the third quarter of 2011. The adjusted operating income margin improved to 28% of net sales from 26% in the year-ago period, with the adjusted gross margin steady at 72% of net sales.
Net income attributable to owners of QIAGEN N.V. declined 17% to $29.2 million from $35.1 million in the third quarter of 2011, primarily due to a one-time gain in the 2011 period recognized in other miscellaneous income in connection with the Cellestis acquisition. Diluted EPS was $0.12 (based on 242.1 million diluted shares) compared to $0.15 in the year-ago period (238.2 million diluted shares). Adjusted net income attributable to owners of QIAGEN N.V. rose 11% to $62.3 million from $56.3 million in the 2011 quarter, as adjusted diluted EPS was $0.26 in the third quarter of 2012 compared to $0.24 in the year-ago period.
Reconciliations of reported results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to adjusted results are included in the tables accompanying this release.
First nine months 2012 results
Nine months to September 30
In $ millions, except per share information
Net sales
Operating income, adjusted
Net income, adjusted
Diluted EPS, adjusted
For information on the adjusted figures, please refer to the reconciliation table accompanying this release.
Net sales advanced at a double-digit pace in constant exchange rates (+12% CER) in the first nine months of 2012, driven by steady growth year-to-date in all customer classes - particularly Molecular Diagnostics and Applied Testing - and geographic regions. The acquisitions of Cellestis, Ipsogen and AmniSure contributed seven percentage points of total CER growth, and the rest of the QIAGEN portfolio provided five percentage points. Currency movements had a negative impact of three percentage points on reported growth.
Operating income rose 1% to $120.9 million in the first nine months of 2012 from $119.2 million in the same period of 2011. Adjusted operating income, which excludes items such as restructuring and acquisition-related costs, share-based compensation and amortization of intangible assets, rose 12% to $250.4 million from $224.0 million in the first nine months of 2011. The adjusted operating income margin improved to 28% of net sales from 27% a year earlier, with an adjusted gross margin of 71% in the 2012 period compared to 72% in the first nine months of 2011.
Net income attributable to owners of QIAGEN N.V. declined 6% to $91.1 million in the first nine months of 2012 from $96.4 million in the same period of 2011, while diluted EPS was $0.38 (based on 240.4 million diluted shares) compared to $0.40 (239.9 million diluted shares) in the year-ago period. Adjusted net income attributable to owners of QIAGEN N.V. grew 11% to $177.9 million in the first nine months of 2012, up from $160.8 million in the same period of 2011, as adjusted diluted EPS rose to $0.74 from $0.67.
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2012, rose to $258.2 million from $221.1 million at December 31, 2011. Net cash provided by operating activities rose to $175.0 million in the first nine months of 2012 from $165.1 million in the same period of 2011. Net cash used in investing activities was $222.7 million (including cash payments of $132.0 million for acquisitions), down from $503.6 million in the 2011 period. Net cash provided by financing activities was $81.6 million in the first nine months of 2012 compared to cash used in financing activities of $66.7 million in the year-ago period.
"Our results so far in 2012 show that QIAGEN is creating a foundation for future growth and delivering greater value to shareholders," said Roland Sackers, Chief Financial Officer of QIAGEN N.V. "We have further strengthened our healthy financial position while improving returns to shareholders. In October, we launched our program to repurchase up to $100 million of common stock and also completed a $400 million U.S. private debt placement on very favorable terms, which provides longer-term flexibility for growth initiatives."
Business review
Geographic regions
All regions contributed to the solid growth in the third quarter of 2012. The Asia-Pacific / Japan region (19% of net sales, +14% CER) delivered double-digit CER sales growth in the Molecular Diagnostics, Applied Testing and Pharma customer classes. In the Americas (47% of net sales, +11% CER), higher sales of the QuantiFERON latent TB test and Personalized Healthcare products were among the drivers. The Europe / Middle East / Africa region (33% of net sales, +7% CER) advanced on growth contributions from many northern European countries as well as Russia and Turkey.
Product categories
In the third quarter of 2012, consumables and related revenues (87% of net sales, +10% CER) were higher in all customer classes, particularly Molecular Diagnostics and Applied Testing. For the first nine months of 2012, consumables and related revenues represented 87% of net sales and grew 12% CER compared to the same period in 2011.
Instrument sales (13% of net sales, +4% CER) in the third quarter of 2012 were driven by initiatives to expand new placements of the QIAsymphony automation platform and its Rotor-Gene Q real-time PCR system. The majority of placements were achieved among Molecular Diagnostics customers, and primarily through reagent rental agreements where revenues are recognized over a multi-year period. Demand was also strong among Applied Testing customers following the launch of new QIAsymphony protocols for these applications in early 2012. For the first nine months of 2012, instrument sales rose 13% CER from the same period in 2011 and represented 13% of net sales.
Customer classes
An overview of performance in QIAGEN's four customer classes (based on total sales results including organic growth and acquisitions at CER):
Molecular Diagnostics (Q3 2012: 48% of net sales, +15% CER) was energized by a group of new growth drivers and the successful rollout of the QIAsymphony automation portfolio. In Prevention, the QuantiFERON latent TB test (acquired with Cellestis in 2011) remained on track to deliver more than 20% CER growth in 2012 over pro forma year-ago results, driven by rapid expansion in the U.S. and Europe. Sales of products related to HPV testing for the first nine months of 2012 (17% of total QIAGEN sales, -3% CER) remained in line with expectations for a single-digit sales CER decline for the full year. QIAGEN is successfully managing its HPV test leadership and maintaining market share in the U.S., where increasing volumes are being more than offset by pricing pressure tied to implementing multi-year customer agreements. In the third quarter of 2012, global sales of HPV tests (17% of total QIAGEN sales, +7% CER) rose in the U.S. and other markets. Personalized Healthcare continued to grow at a strong double-digit pace on demand for companion diagnostic kits, in particular spurred by the U.S. launch of the therascreen KRAS biomarker test for use in colorectal cancer patients, which received FDA approval in July 2012. Revenues from co-development projects with pharmaceutical companies also rose in the third quarter of 2012 over the year-ago period. In Profiling, sales were higher for many products used in disease analysis. In Point of Need, the AmniSure assay - acquired in May 2012 as a novel test for premature rupture of fetal membranes in pregnant women - has accelerated growth during integration into QIAGEN's commercial operations. In the first nine months of 2012, Molecular Diagnostics grew 19% CER and represented 48% of net sales.
Applied Testing (Q3 2012: 8% of net sales, +21% CER) again delivered sales growth of more than 20% CER in the third quarter of 2012. Sales of consumables and instruments both grew at strong double-digit rates on increasing demand among customers in human identification / forensics, veterinary medicine and food safety, as well as for the QIAsymphony automation platform following the launch of new software in early 2012. In the first nine months of 2012, Applied Testing grew 24% CER and represented 8% of net sales.
Pharma (Q3 2012: 19% of net sales, +3% CER) grew at a slower pace in the third quarter of 2012 than in the first half of the year, with restructuring activities at select pharmaceutical companies impacting the year-on-year comparison. In the first nine months of 2012, Pharma rose at a 6% CER pace and represented 20% of net sales.
Academia (Q3 2012: 24% of net sales, +2% CER) provided single-digit growth in the third quarter of 2012, as higher sales of consumables more than offset a modest decline in instruments. All regions provided growth contributions. U.S. and European market conditions remain challenging, driven by uncertainty about government funding in the U.S. and European austerity measures. Market conditions in these regions are expected to become more challenging in the fourth quarter of 2012 as budget restriction uncertainties will continue. In the first nine months of 2012, Academia grew 2% CER and represented 25% of net sales.
Delivering growth at a faster pace in 2012
Progress on strategic initiatives to drive growth and innovation is paying off in improved performance and building momentum during 2012. QIAGEN is delivering sales and adjusted earnings growth at a faster pace in 2012, reaping the benefits of leveraging QIAGEN's leadership in Sample & Assay Technologies to (1) drive platform success, especially with the modular QIAsymphony automation platform; (2) add test content for use in all customer classes; (3) broaden geographic presence, especially in emerging markets; and (4) grow efficiently and effectively.
Drive platform success
A key element of QIAGEN's growth strategy is securing placements around the world of the QIAsymphony automation platform, the industry's first modular sample-to-result system that can process commercial assays as well as a broad range of laboratory-developed tests. Customer interest for this system continues to grow, particularly in Asia-Pacific and emerging markets, due to its industry-leading profile and capabilities for use by a broad range of customers.
QIAGEN is well on track to achieve its year-end 2012 target for cumulative placements of more than 750 QIAsymphony automation platforms, adding more than 200 new systems during the year to build on the installed base of over 550 systems worldwide at the end of 2011. The Rotor-Gene Q MDx real-time PCR cycler, one of the modules in the QIAsymphony family, has received U.S. regulatory approval for use in healthcare laboratories with two QIAGEN diagnostic tests so far in 2012. In Applied Testing, the QIAsymphony RGQ platform received validation from an independent food safety organization, the AOAC Research Institute, for processing the mericon® Salmonella spp. kit in an automated workflow from food sample to final result.
Add content
QIAGEN is adding novel content for use on a broad range of instruments in its portfolio, particularly Rotor-Gene Q as part of the successful rollout of the QIAsymphony platform.
The launch of the therascreen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit, which provides guidance on the use of Erbitux® (cetuximab) as a treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, has been gaining momentum following the U.S. regulatory approval of this product in July 2012. A number of top U.S. laboratories have already adopted QIAGEN's FDA-approved test, which in many cases has replaced use of their own laboratory-developed tests (LDTs). The transition of many more U.S. laboratories is expected in the coming months. Approval of the KRAS test was a milestone in QIAGEN's global expansion of its Personalized Healthcare franchise, as entry into the U.S. market builds on success in Europe, Japan and other markets where QIAGEN already offers a broad range of Personalized Healthcare tests.
QIAGEN is actively expanding its pipeline in companion diagnostics and plans to submit several other tests for U.S. regulatory approval in the coming years. The next U.S. submission is planned for 2012 involving a therascreen EGFR assay as a companion diagnostic for use with Boehringer Ingelheim's investigational medicine afatinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Other submissions are expected to emerge from more than 15 projects QIAGEN has under way to co-develop and market companion diagnostics with leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies. In October, a new agreement was announced with Bayer HealthCare, laying the groundwork for a strong collaboration in oncology and other therapeutic areas based on existing and new biomarkers in the QIAGEN portfolio. This new collaboration with Bayer includes companion diagnostics to identify patients who are most likely to respond to therapies in clinically unmet disease classifications.
Growth in the third quarter of 2012 also benefited from novel content added through targeted acquisitions. Most recently, in May 2012 QIAGEN acquired AmniSure International LLC, a U.S. company that created the AmniSure® assay, a highly sensitive and specific test for rupture of fetal membranes, a condition in pregnant women in which fluid leaks prematurely from the amniotic sac. This product, which is approved in the U.S. and many markets worldwide, is expected to be catalytic to QIAGEN's Point of Need portfolio and synergistic to its clinical sales channels. As announced with the acquisition in May, AmniSure is expected to contribute more than $12 million of sales to QIAGEN in 2012, but to be neutral to adjusted EPS as expansion investments are made.
Broaden geographic presence
QIAGEN continues to expand its geographic presence in attractive markets around the world. The top seven emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey represented 12% of net sales in the third quarter of 2012 and generated 19% CER growth over the year-ago period. QIAGEN continues to expand its presence in China, including through major instrument supply agreements. In the third quarter QIAGEN launched a collaboration with a leading medical device company in China, Lepu Medical Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., to provide QIAGEN's ESEQuant Lateral Flow System for use in emergency rooms with Lepu's tests for cardiac markers that detect myocardial infarction (heart attack). This agreement, which involves 750 ESEQuant systems, adds a new Point of Need application in Molecular Diagnostics and further expands QIAGEN's rapidly growing presence in Asia.
Grow efficiently and effectively
QIAGEN continues to implement actions to grow more efficiently and effectively. Far-reaching organizational and leadership changes took effect on July 1 to improve capabilities and better address customer needs. Changes throughout QIAGEN continue to emerge from a company-wide project launched in November 2011 to enhance productivity and free up resources for reallocation to strategic initiatives. Operational improvements are being made to focus R&D activities on high-growth areas in all customer classes, optimize capacity utilization at selected sites and capture savings from shared service functions and outsourcing. QIAGEN has set a goal of generating approximately $50 million of pre-tax savings in 2012, with the majority to be reinvested. Further restructuring charges may be taken during 2012.
$100 million share repurchase program launched in October
On October 1, 2012, QIAGEN launched a previously announced program under which it intends to purchase up to a total of $100 million of shares (excluding transaction costs). The first tranche, which totaled $10 million, was completed on October 18 with a total of 544,242 QIAGEN shares repurchased on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at a volume-weighted average price of EUR 14.27. Repurchased shares will be held in treasury in order to satisfy various obligations for exchangeable debt instruments and employee share-based remuneration plans. Information on the progress of the program is available in the Investor Relations section of QIAGEN's website at http://www.qiagen.com/.
Successful completion of $400 million U.S. private placement debt offering
QIAGEN has successfully completed a U.S. private placement through the issuance of new senior unsecured notes with a total amount of $400 million at a weighted-average interest rate of 3.66% (settled on October 16, 2012). Proceeds of the notes were used to repay an outstanding amount of EUR 170 million (approximately $220 million) on QIAGEN's revolving credit facility, and also provide additional financial resources to support longer-term business expansion. The success of QIAGEN's first offering in the U.S. private placement market, which was significantly oversubscribed, demonstrates the high level of confidence of U.S. investors in QIAGEN's solid financial position and long-term cash generating capacity. This transaction also contributes to the diversification of QIAGEN's investor base and benefits from highly attractive market conditions.
Leadership change in Commercial Operations
After 12 years with QIAGEN, Bernd Uder, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, member of the Executive Committee and Managing Director, has decided to retire in January 2013. During his career at QIAGEN, Bernd Uder led the global transformation of the sales organization through a multi-channel strategy targeting QIAGEN's four customer classes and supported the six-fold increase in sales since 2001. He will continue to work closely with QIAGEN in an advisory consulting role. Benedikt von Braunmühl, currently Vice President, Commercial Operations Emerging Regions and Second Channels, has been selected to succeed Bernd Uder in this leadership role and will join the Executive Committee. Benedikt von Braunmühl, who has been with QIAGEN since 2008, has successfully managed Molecular Diagnostics and Life Sciences customer class activities in Western and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia. Before joining QIAGEN, he held previous roles at ASTA Medica, Voco, Chiron and Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, as well as at Metzler Securities.
2012 outlook
QIAGEN is reaffirming its outlook for a strong performance in 2012 led by growth in net sales and adjusted earnings. For the full year, total net sales are expected to rise approximately 8-9% CER on a mix of contributions from the acquisitions of Cellestis and Ipsogen in 2011 and AmniSure in May 2012, as well as growth in the rest of the business. Full-year reported sales are expected to be adversely affected by currency movements against the U.S. dollar, QIAGEN's reporting currency. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) are expected to rise to approximately $1.04-1.06 for full-year 2012. This guidance takes into account approximately half a cent of dilution expected on adjusted EPS results in the fourth quarter of 2012 from the combined effect of the share repurchase program as well as higher interest expenses incurred through the U.S. private placement. These expectations do not take into account any further acquisitions that could be completed in 2012.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
Information on QIAGEN's performance will be presented during a conference call on Monday, November 5, 2012, at 9:30 ET / 14:30 GMT / 15:30 CET. The corresponding presentation slides will be available for download shortly before the event at www.qiagen.com/goto/ConferenceCall, and a webcast will be available at this website. A replay will also be made available on this website.
Use of Adjusted Results
QIAGEN has regularly reported adjusted results, as well as results considered on a constant exchange rate basis, to give additional insight into its financial performance. These adjusted results include adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income attributable to owners of QIAGEN N.V. and adjusted diluted EPS. In addition, QIAGEN provides information on free cash flow, which it defines as net cash provided by operating activities minus purchase of property, plant and equipment. Adjusted results are non-GAAP financial measures that QIAGEN believes should be considered in addition to the reported results prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but should not be considered as a substitute. QIAGEN believes certain items should be excluded from adjusted results when they are outside of its ongoing core operations, vary significantly from period to period, or affect the comparability of results with its competitors and its own prior periods. Reconciliations of reported results to adjusted results are included in the tables accompanying this release.
About QIAGEN
QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample & Assay Technologies that are used to transform biological materials into valuable molecular information. Sample technologies are used to isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from biological samples such as blood or tissue. Assay technologies are then used to make these isolated biomolecules visible and ready for interpretation. QIAGEN markets more than 500 products around the world, selling both consumable kits and automation systems to customers through four customer classes: Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (forensics, veterinary testing and food safety), Pharma (pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of September 30, 2012, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,000 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.qiagen.com/.
Certain of the statements contained in this news release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to QIAGEN's products, markets, strategy or operating results, including without limitation its expected operating results, new product developments, new product launches, regulatory submissions, and financing plans are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with management of growth and international operations (including the effects of currency fluctuations, regulatory processes and dependence on logistics), variability of operating results and allocations between customer classes, the commercial development of markets for our products in applied testing, personalized healthcare, clinical research, proteomics, women's health/HPV testing and nucleic acid-based molecular diagnostics; changing relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners; competition; rapid or unexpected changes in technologies; fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN's products (including fluctuations due to general economic conditions, the level and timing of customers' funding, budgets and other factors); our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our products; difficulties in successfully adapting QIAGEN's products to integrated solutions and producing such products; the ability of QIAGEN to identify and develop new products and to differentiate and protect our products from competitors' products; market acceptance of QIAGEN's new products, the consummation of acquisitions, and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses. For further information, please refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).


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The political attack on Broward sheriff's candidate Louie Granteed gets curiouser and curiouser.
The PAC involved in the anti-Granteed robo-calls that have been running throughout Broward County is backed by Genting, the giant gambling company based in Malaysia, and Disney. You got that right, Mickey Mouse is involved.
I told you about political "dirty trickster" Roger Stone's fingerprints on it yesterday. Stone claimed his involvement was simply a "favor" for political consultant Todd Wilder, who is running the PAC that behind the robocalls attacking Granteed and supporting Scott Israel, his opponent in the Democratic primary. The PAC is called "Taxpayers for Integrity in Government, Inc."
So what is Taxpayers for Integrity in Government, Inc.? Here's a link to its far-flung donors. Essentially, it's a big political slush fund that's received about $845,000 so far. The biggest contibutor -- about $525,000 -- is a company called Solar Sportsystems out Buffalo, NY. That company is affiliated with billionaire Jeremy Jacobs, who owns TD Garden and the Boston Bruins. Think he cares about the Broward sheriff's race? I don't. Appears his issue involved the polo country of Wellington, where Jacobs owns property, earlier this year. Read about that here.
In January, Genting New York -- part of the Genting gambling empire that is trying to build a destination casino in Miami -- ponied up $10,000. Interestingly, Roger Stone has touted Genting through his Tea Party Miami group and the dubious "progressive" blog, Florida Clarion. When I asked Stone a while back what his obvious ties to the Clarion, he would neither confirm nor deny involvement. "I know the guys at the Clarion," Stone told me today in an email. "They have many agendas. Wilder knows them too."
Then on June 18 came a $10,000 from Disney Worldwide Services. I don't pretend to understand that one. Stone, for his part, tells me he doesn't know why Genting or Disney contributed to the PAC either.
And only in the past several days, just in time for the primary, one "Andrew James Miller" has contributed $110,100 to the PAC. Who is Andrew James Miller? Why he's a young assistant to Roger Stone who is also the stepson of Stone assistant Dianne Thorne, who you may remember from her involvement with the "Tea Party Miami" in Saturday's post. Another favor from Mr. Stone? He says no.
"I have many proteges," he wrote in his email today. "I have launched the career of many young political operatives. I cannot be held responsible the activities of all of them. ... If I were hiding something would I have straw donors so easy to trace to me?"
He got one thing right: It's easy to trace his influence on this PAC. And you do have to wonder how Miller, who lists himself as a "business consultant" in New York, became wealthy enough to throw six figures into some PAC.
Just for some more Sunday reading, check out this 2010 New York Times piece on Stone about his strange dual roles in a race there.
Copyright 2012 by Post Newsweek. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Avastin Before or After Chemotherapy
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
Is there a therapeutic advantage to giving Avastin first or last in a regimen?
Bruce Giantonio, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Hematology-Oncology Division at the University of Pennsylvania, responds:
I am not aware of any clinical data that argues for one over the other, i.e. for a benefit to giving it either first or last within the treatment regimen. In the clinical trial E3200, we specified that the bevacizumab (Avastin) be given first, but that was to provide consistency and not for any other reason. However, based on the 'pseudo-normalization' hypothesis of anti-VEGF (anti-angiogenesis) therapy, it is possible that administering the bevacizumab prior to the chemotherapeutic drugs could potentially enhance delivery of the chemotherapy into the tumor.


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Notice to Members 04-89
NASD Alerts Members to Concerns When Recommending or Facilitating Investments of Liquefied Home Equity
The rapid increase in home prices over the past several years, in combination with refinancing activity by homeowners, has lead to increasing investment activity by homeowners with equity from their homes. This Notice reminds members that recommending liquefying home equity to purchase securities may not be suitable for all investors and that members and their associated persons should perform a careful analysis to determine whether liquefying home equity is a suitable strategy for an investor. In addition, members should ensure that all communications with the public addressing a strategy of liquefying home equity are fair and balanced, and accurately depict the risks of investing with liquefied home equity. Finally, members should consider whether to employ heightened scrutiny of accounts that they know, or have reason to know, are funded with liquefied home equity.
Questions regarding this Notice may be directed to Gary L. Goldsholle, Associate Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Regulatory Policy and Oversight, at (202) 728-8104.


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Insured with you 3 years ago and was pleased with the service.S.M., Victoria, B.C.
Just wanted to let you know about the great customer service the Baja Bound team delivers. I called today to transfer my current policy to a new vehicle and Jennifer and Irene did a great job taking care of my request. Your service is the quickest and highest quality for Mexican insurance.R.C., San Francisco, CA
Fifth time I have used this company and feel that the ease of use with the site is great.S.S., Hesperia, CA


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I have to say, this was not the outfit I had hoped to debut my new beloved wellies in, but the bits and pieces of the desired look were languishing away in the washing machine, so I had to make do with some gingham and flannel. I also forgot to upload the up-close picture of my new boots, so we will consider this an impromptu meeting, and save the actual day for when it's raining or muddy.
I ended up ordering them in navy blue--my mother has a pair of green ones, that are a big too snug for me, and I rather liked something about the navy instead. They look almost like a soft black, which is ideal, and I love them to little rubbery bits. I had tried them on at Nordstrom, and I suspect they were a slightly different boot, since the ones I tried on were slightly more mailable and light. These heavier versions are probably better though, if the state of my every-day footwear is any indication of how hard I wear my shoes.
I also opted to wear them despite the fact that it was not doing anything even remotely related to rain yesterday. I don't care, I will probably wear them whenever the feeling strikes, weather appropriate or not.
It was less awkward to wear them to the orchard though, to pick up little pumpkins and eat a donut or two. I have a real problem with things like pumpkins, especially the teeny ones. I want to bring them all home! I was really taken with the little ghost pumpkins, but only ended up with two. I have grand plans for these little dudes, so let's hope my procrastination doesn't get in the way of my ambition.


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Role delegation in keystone: Trusts
This article introduces Keystone's trusts mechanism and gives a quick example showing how to use a trust to access a swift container on behalf of another user. What are trusts ? As OpenStack's identity service, Keystone deals with the problems of authentication (who am I ?) and authorization (what can I do ?). The trusts API adds delegation functionalities: by… Read more →


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Canon EF-Mount
per month, incl. VAT
Delivery in 3-7 working days
Choose a minimum rental period, and switch to a longer one whenever you want.
Use your tech worry-free. In case of damage, we cover 90% of repair costs.
At the end of the rental period you can keep renting, send it back for free, or buy at any time.
Grover rents new and as good as new products. Before products are rented out again, they go through a detailed quality check and multi-stage processing, so that each device rented from Grover arrives in flawless condition. If your device isn't as expected, our customer service is happy to help. Learn more about our Great Condition Promise.
The first monthly rental payment is charged when ordering, but the rental period does not officially start until you receive your product. The delivery date determines the recurring monthly payment date. If you fall in love and want to keep your product longer than the minimum rental period, you can extend your rental plan in your customer dashboard at any time to reduce the monthly payment. At the end of the minimum rental period, you can keep renting on a monthly basis for the same price or cancel your subscription by returning your device for free.
If something happens during your rental, Grover Care is there for you. We pay for 90% of the repair costs for damages of all kinds, including display breakage, water damage, and technical defects. Of course there are no charges for device errors from the manufacturer. Learn more about Grover Care
Don't worry, we want you to enjoy your products as though they were yours. Small scratches and normal signs of use will be cleaned after return for free. In case of severe signs of wear, such as display breakage, Grover Care covers 90% of the repair costs. Here you'll find example photos of normal signs of use that we repair for free and also photos of more severe damage where you'd have to pay 10% of the repair cost.
Yes, 100% of your monthly payments go towards the purchase of the product. You have two options, depending on when you choose to buy. The first options is to rent for long enough that you can buy your product for a symbolic one Euro payment. The exact duration depends on the product and your chosen minimum rental period, and will be displayed at checkout, as well as in your customer account dashboard. The second option is to buy it earlier by paying all of the remaining rent payments at once.


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Main navigation | Main content
|Vlad Pribiag
Assistant Professor Vlad Pribiag has been selected as a 2017 Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in Physics. Pribiag is one of only 23 physicists to receive the fellowship this year. Pribiag's research focuses on electronic transport in low-dimensional materials.
Pribiag's Fellowship of $60,000, over two years, beginning in April, 2017.