text:
NVIDIA Spices up Visual Effects Creation with Hardware, Software and
Renowned for a rich culture dating back thousands of years, India is building
a new cultural legacy-the movie business. Popularly known as Bollywood, the
Indian film industry annually releases 1,000 films, approximately 10 times what
Hollywood produces each year.
Despite this prolific output, the film business in this movie-obsessed
society of more than a billion people is just getting geared up. For years,
moviegoers have flocked to Bollywood's traditional song-and-dance fare, which
was once described by NPR reporter Holly Kernan as "three to four hours long,
chock full of songs, and never sticking to just one genre."
While no one foresees those kinds of films going away, the business is
certainly expanding creatively as well as financially. Indian filmmakers are
increasingly using digital filmmaking technologies for visual effects, animation
and post-production. The rise of multiplexes is allowing a wider variety of
films to be distributed. Meanwhile, Bollywood is investing in Hollywood-and vice
"What's happened is, the Bollywood folks are starting to take notice of
what's going on worldwide, and they're saying we want to get involved in this,"
says Laura Dohrmann, NVIDIA's Digital Film Group Marketing Director, who heads
up the company's Digital Bollywood Initiative. Based in Mumbai, Dohrmann's role
is to help local studios develop the digital filmmaking community with training,
expertise and educational initiatives. She also evangelizes technologies such as
NVIDIA's Quadro®® GPU accelerator cards, which have a huge following in
Bollywood. Because of her regular interaction with most of India's major
production houses, Dohrmann has a unique perspective on the evolution of
Bollywood filmmaking.
Among the milestones she cites is last year's release of "Krrish," the first
major superhero movie to be produced in Bollywood, complete with splashy visual
effects. Two other recent films, "Om Shanti Om" and "Chak De India," featured
visual effects by Red Chilies, a production company founded by the prominent
actor Shahrukh Khan. At the same time, the growing business is attracting
international players. Sony, DreamWorks and Disney have forged relationships
with Indian production houses, and mainstays from the Hollywood production
company such as Rhythm & Hues are opening dedicated facilities in India.
"Rhythm & Hues is here in both Mumbai and Hyderabad," Dohrmann says.
"They won the Oscar this year for Visual FX on "The Golden Compass". So now,
everybody wants to work with Rhythm & Hues, because they know they do good
"The way Rhythm & Hues chose to address the Indian market is unique,
because it's not an outsourcing or offshore model," says Prashant Buyyala,
managing director of Rhythm & Hues India. "Essentially, the artists and
support staff are like employees of the Los Angeles office in another
"We kind of moved the building halfway around the world," Buyyala says. "We
don't have any separate Indian projects, or Asian projects, or separate tasks
that are done in India. It's all one common pool of resources. We have the same
network, the same software, the same projects, the same tasks and
Most of Rhythm & Hues' projects are for Hollywood feature films or
television commercials. When a project comes in, if a producer needs 30
animators, they are drawn from a geographically agnostic pool. "It could happen
to be that 10 of the animators are in India, and 20 happen to be in LA," Buyyala
says. "The same shot actually can go back and forth between all the facilities.
For a single shot, the animation might be done in LA, the lighting might be done
in Mumbai, and the final effects might be done in Hyderabad. So, it's completely
transparent, even in a single shot."
Other Hollywood production companies and studios are using modified offshore
models that illustrate the truly global nature of the film industry. DreamWorks,
for instance, has struck a strategic partnership for Indian production that
might best be described with a flow chart. The DreamWorks Animation Unit in
Bangalore is a dedicated unit of Paprikaas, which is majority-owned by Thomson.
Thomson invested in Paprikaas to build up its Technicolor Content Services
division. Altogether, Technicolor has four divisions operating out of Paprikaas,
which in addition to the DreamWorks Animation Unit, include Paprikaas Animation,
Paprikaas Interactive-Video Games and Paprikaas Visual Effects for Moving
Picture Company, London.
Paprikaas Animation, as a separate Technicolor division, maintains its own
offices in Los Angeles and Bangalore, in a more "traditional" offshore
production model. VP of Business Development Sanjee Gupta represents Paprikaas
Animation in Los Angeles, meeting with clients to discuss using the Paprikaas
Animation production staff in Bangalore.
The same way that most Hollywood deals are done, most of Gupta's business
comes via relationships and word of mouth. "Given the nature of production, it
relies heavily on freelance artists and producers." Gupta says. "They tend to
move from project to project as the production schedules ebb and flow. Quite a
few of those people have now dispersed onto other projects and our name has just
proliferated through the marketplace."
The increasing influence of Bollywood is evident in another trend, a kind of
reverse offshore production model. One high-profile example is the purchase of
Post Logic Studios, a prominent post house with offices in New York and Los
Angeles. By Prime Focus Group, an Indian post production powerhouse. Another
sign of the times is that the first Indian production at Hollywood's Universal
Studios is being shot, "Kambakkht Ishq" ("Incredible Love")-with Sylvester
Stallone in a starring role.
Although India has many talented digital artists, the rapid expansion of the
industry demands ever-increasing numbers to keep up with demand. Consequently,
one of the most important ongoing initiatives is training and supporting
artists. "There's a lack of training, and such a tremendous desire for it," says
NVIDIA's Dohrmann. "The challenge is the animation and effects industry in India
is fairly young. Many artists and animators working in Los Angeles have 20 or
more years experience. We don't have people who have been in the industry with
that much experience, unless they are transplants to India."
There's a shared commitment to training and educating among all the key
companies in the Indian film industry, including competitive companies. Dohrmann
works with companies such as Big Animation (India's second largest studio),
Rhythm & Hues, DreamWorks, Autodesk, and local companies to advance the
cause. "We're really all trying to be involved in it together," she says.
Dohrmann spends a lot of time arranging for product training sessions, such
as a recent mental ray event that was filled to bursting. "There is such a
demand for this, I've been I've been juggling balls all week trying to placate
people," she says. "I've got people begging to get into the class."
Other events are more oriented towards community building, such as Women in
Animation, which NVIDIA has supported through its Women in Technology group.
"We've done two really great events," Dohrmann says. "We had probably 2,000
people show up for the two events combined. They were great and really well
received. We also do CG Meet-Ups, which are monthly meetings where people come
together to talk about modeling, texturing or rendering, or production
There's also a concerted effort to establish educational curriculum
standards. "We want to help establish core competencies in digital production,
including what the exit competencies need to be from a training program, what
the entrance competencies need to be, and how much emphasis needs to be placed
on art," continues Dohrmann. "Anyone can learn software, but being an artist
isn't something you can learn. You either have the inherent skills, or or you
don't. There is no gray area."
To put the flurry of activity and investment surrounding Bollywood in
perspective, a report issued by the consulting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers last
year projected that annual revenues for the Indian film business would reach
$4.5 billion by 2010-up from about $2 billion in 2006.
The view from ground level in Mumbai bears that out. "If you look at London,
Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco, over the next three years, I don't expect to
see more than five studios opening in any of those cities any time soon," says
Dohrmann. "But over the next three years, I expect to see a minimum of five
studios opening in India. There's just so much interest in the possibilities
India holds, along with people who who want to get involved in this up and
coming market sector.
More Press Releases-->
More Press Releases-->


text:
Honda NT700V
Jump to navigation Jump to search
|Honda NT700V
|Spark Plug
|Final Drive
|Shaft `10-11[1]
|Front Tire
|120/70-17 `10-11[1]
|Rear Tire
|150/70-17 `10-11[1]
|Recommended Oil
|Honda GN4 10W-40
|Service Manual
If you're looking for a touring machine that's fun, easy to ride and ready to carry you to work and play seven days a week, look no further than the NT700V. Fully outfitted and ready to roll, the NT700V can turn your daily commute into riding bliss and then carry you off on that weekend adventure. With a fairing, interlinked saddlebags and a strong 680cc V-twin engine, the NT700V is ready for any journey you can dream up. This bike is somewhat similar to the Honda Pacific Coast.
- The NT700V comes fully outfitted for travel with fairing, saddlebags and front storage compartments.
- Powerful 680cc liquid-cooled V-twin engine gives the NT700V a slim riding profile and plenty of performance.
- Interlinked saddlebags feature a pass-through space between the two sides to facilitate packing of longer items and provide additional carrying capacity.
- Five-position windscreen can be quickly adjusted to rider preference.
- Combined Braking System (see 2009 Technology Section) triple-disc brake system plus the option of ABS braking for confident braking in varying conditions.
- Instrument panel includes speedometer, tachometer, odometer/A&B tripmeter, clock, fuel gauge, and average fuel consumption.
* Transferable one-year, unlimited-mileage limited warranty; extended coverage available with a Honda Protection Plan.
- Compact 680cc liquid-cooled SOHC 52-degree V-twin with four valves per cylinder provides substantial torque and power.
- Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI, see 2009 Technology Section) with twin 40mm throttle bodies.
- Auto enrichment system is integrated into the PGM-FI system to optimize the air/fuel mixture on cold starts and eliminates the need for a choke.
- Five-speed transmission for optimized performance and freeway cruising.
- Stout 41mm front fork with 4.5 inches of supple travel and progressive damping.
- Single-shock rear suspension provides 4.8 inches of plush, well-controlled travel and features a handy, easy-to-use remote spring preload adjuster for rider and passenger.
- Braking system features two lightweight 296mm front discs and a single 276mm rear disc.
Honda Genuine Accessories[edit]
- Top Box, 45 liter Red and Silver, Inner Bag-Trunk, Lower Top Box Pad, Fairing Wind Deflector Set, Knee Pad Set, Heated Grips, DC Socket, Tank Pad, Outdoor Cycle Cover.
|Motorcycles: CB series | CBF series | CM/CMX series | CX Series | CBR series | NSR series | CR series | Pacific Coast | XR/XL series | Bros/HawkGT | VF/VFR series | VT series | VTX series | ST series | Valkyrie series | GL series| NR series
|Mopeds and light motorcycles: Ape models | Cub series | CT series | ST series/Dax | S series |Wave series | Z series

subset: commoncrawl


text:
OCC to Sponsor Oil&Gas Institute (Nov 27, 2012)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is sponsoring its annual Oil and Gas Institute to discuss changes in the state's energy production industry.
The institute is planned Friday in Oklahoma City. It is open to Oklahoma energy producers, attorneys, mineral owners and others involved in the oil and gas sector.
Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy says the institute comes at a time when the energy industry continues to undergo huge changes. Murphy says it's essential that professionals and others involved in the industry keep up with new developments.
The institute will offer panel discussions and presentations on challenges and changes in horizontal drilling and development, ethics, environmental issues related to water and air, the commission's administrative law process, surface owner rights and other areas. The event is co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association.
« back


text:
Lisa Ling | The Great Flood of 1761
Clip: Season 5 Episode 3 | 59s
Dr. Gates reveals reveals the family history of Lisa Ling.
Aired: 01/22/19Video has closed captioning.
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Major corporate support for FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., Season Six is provided by Ancestry, Johnson & Johnson and AT&T. Major support is also provided by the Ford Foundation, Candace King Weir, the Lloyd Carney Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.


text:
A VisitBritain campaign based on the legend of the Loch Ness Monster is returning with a new set of monster-hunting tips to inspire European visitors to visit Inverness and Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands outside of the summer season.
A VisitBritain campaign based on the legend of the Loch Ness Monster is returning with a new set of monster-hunting tips to inspire European visitors to visit Inverness and Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands outside of the summer season.
The six-week digital marketing campaign, which gets underway next week in France and Germany, two of Britain's most valuable and largest inbound visitor markets, and The Netherlands, uses images and videos to showcase the incredible experiences that can only be had in the Inverness and Loch Ness area.
Tips include 'cover as much ground as possible' by exploring the area in a campervan, 'listen to the locals' on a guided kayak tour and 'stay as quiet as possible' while amongst deer and other wildlife in the countryside.
Robin Johnson, VisitBritain director of marketing, said: "Steeped in history and culture and surrounded by breath-taking scenery, the Inverness and Loch Ness area offers an unbeatable holiday experience at all times of the year.
"By inspiring visitors to book a trip now to come and explore this stunning part of the Highlands – and maybe even spot Nessie – we can spread the economic benefits of tourism throughout the year."
Graeme Ambrose, VisitInvernessLochNess chief executive, said: "This campaign is a fantastic way to harness the global fascination with Nessie to shine a light on all that is great about Inverness and Loch Ness, driving growth and attracting more visitors year-round."
The Inverness Loch Ness campaign, launched earlier this year with an initial three-week run, is part of a longer-term plan to grow inbound tourism to the area outside of the traditionally busy summer period.
Just last month VisitBritain hosted 49 of the world's top travel bloggers in Inverness and Loch Ness when it brought the Social Travel Summit, a global social media conference, to Inverness.
The Inverness and Loch Ness area is also promoted overseas through visits by international media and travel buyers and with local businesses and destination partners attending international trade events.
The latest figures from VisitBritain show that there were 316,000 international visits to Inverness in 2015, up 21 per cent on the previous year.
It has been a record-breaking year to date for overall inbound tourism to the UK. July was the highest month ever with 3.8 million visits, up two per cent on last July and bringing inbound visits for 2016 so far to 21.1 million, up two per cent on the same January to July period last year.
Last year set a record for inbound tourism to Britain on visits and spend with 36.1 million visits, five per cent up on 2014, and spending up one per cent to £22.1 billion.


text:
Diamond Painting-Partial Round Drill Butterfly Fairy
|You will Save
|$15 wuth Code:AB15
|$30 With Code:AB30
|$60 With Code:AB60
Butterfly Fairy 5D Diamond Painting Embroidery DIY Craft Needlework Decor Gift
5D Diamond Painting Embroidery DIY Craft Cross Stitch Butterfly Fairy Home Decor
If you want to make your home more beautiful and colorful,the Diamond Painting can help you add the gaiety decoration.
DIY painting, originality, painting and resin sequins, the resin sequins dazzling, unique luster, shining light, is the most popular DIY jewelry at present.
Colorful diamond painting decorate your home;
Perfectly decorate your living room or bedroom to match and create the different styles,we are sure that you will like it.
Material: rhinestones + canvas
Project type: 5D diamond painting
Pattern: Butterfly Fairy
Color: as shown in the picture
Canvas size: Approx. 40X30cm/15.75 X 11.81"(1 cm =0.39 inches)
Point drill: Approx. 34X24cm/13.39 X 9.45"(1 cm =0.39 inches)
Space: living room / bedroom / classroom / entrance
DIY diamond painting steps:
1, Open the box, check the kits whether complete;
2, According to the color code, choose a color into the plate;If you paste the same color at the same time, you can increase the speed;
3, Find the symbols in picture, beginning paste until finish it;
4. When you finish it,put some books on top, let it more firmly;
5. Congratulations, you can go framed up and decorate your home now!
Preventive measures of DIY diamond painting:
1. Refer to the previous operation steps;
2. If you don't know what the color, please refer to the color table.
We sell the resin diamonds, semi-finished products, not including frames!Diamond painting, only needs DIY sticking diamond.
This is DIY diamond painting. It's not finished. You need to do it yourself.
1. Due to the different monitor and light effect, the actual color of the item might be slightly different from the color showed on the pictures. Thank you!
2. Please allow 1-3cm measuring deviation due to manual measurement.
Package Content:
1 X Diamond Painting (diamonds need to be pasted)
1 set X Diamond Painting Tools (not including painting frame)
20 people are currently looking at this product
Estimated Shipping time 7-25 days
Customers will only be charged once at most for shipping costs (this includes returns); No-restocking to be charged to the consumers for the return of the product.
Return Policy
Return Policy: Annebuy will only accept returns on products that are identified as eligible for return or are received damaged. Once Annebuy confirms that your Product was returned in accordance with this policy, your credit card or PayPal account will be fully refunded. Return Address will be provided by email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. Normally Within 3 business days.We do not accept any Product exchanges.
If the Product arrived damaged ("Damaged Product"), Annebuy will accept returns for a full refund only in accordance with the Return Procedures below. Once Annebuy confirms that you received a Damaged Product that was returned in accordance with the Return Procedures below, your sole and exclusive remedy is that (a) we will issue a refund to your credit card or PayPal account in the amount charged for the Damaged Product (if your credit card or PayPal account has already been charged for the Product) or (b) we will not charge your credit card or PayPal account for the Damaged Product. The refunded amount will include the applicable Delivery Fee.
Return Procedures: All returns must be made within 14 days after the Product delivery date. All returned Products must be unused (e.g., not worn, washed, damaged, or altered) and returned in accordance with the instructions received from contacting customer service as per the Site. All Products not returned in accordance with the Return Procedures shall be sent back to you, and no credit or refund will be issued.


text:
(The Root) — Recent census data reveal that, for the first time, racial and ethnic minorities make up more than half of all children born in the United States, with 50.4 percent of children under age 1 identified as Hispanic, black, Asian American or members of another ethnic minority group.
In terms of the overall population, African Americans are the second-largest minority group in the nation (after Hispanics), with a 1.6 percent increase between 2010 and 2011. Minorities now make up nearly 37 percent of the overall U.S. population, and it's predicted that by 2042, a minority of Americans will be non-Hispanic whites.
What do all these numbers mean for our understanding of race, for the issues that affect communities of color and for our very concept of who is a "minority" in this country? The Root has gathered a variety of perspectives on the significance of America's becoming a browner nation for a series of interviews on whether, and why, we should pay attention to these demographic changes.
For the third in the series, The Root talked to Rashad Robinson, executive director of ColorOfChange.org, which is the nation's largest online African-American political organization. His professional mission focuses on making the government more responsive to the concerns of black Americans and ensuring that the voices of all Americans, regardless of race of class, are heard.
With a perspective grounded in the idea that "black people have never been a majority in this nation, and that's not changing anytime soon," Robinson explains his gripe with the term "people of color," why it's a mistake to think the interests of all nonwhite people are aligned, and how to keep the discussion of racial equality focused on political and economic power rather than numbers.
The Root: For the first time in U.S. history, most of the nation's babies are members of minority groups, and the census has forecast that non-Hispanic whites will be outnumbered in the United States by 2042. What, from your perspective, might be the positive and negative effects of these changing demographics when it comes to issues affecting communities of color?
Rashad Robinson: As our community grows, there are opportunities for increased political power, and to have greater numbers means the opportunity to have greater influence on the type of issues that are taken up in this country. The challenge is if we simply concentrate on the numbers and don't focus on how to mobilize or engage the voices or everyday people.
Also, it's critical not to think that any of these groups are going to be monoliths. It's going to be important for us to organize and engage to do the kind of tough work within our communities to make sure that people are participating politically and are engaged in their communities.
TR: The idea that America will be a "majority minority" nation gets a lot of attention. Is there anything you wish people would focus on instead of, or in addition to, the numbers?
RR: The numbers only tell part of the story. It's important to focus on — as much as the country is changing — [the fact] that all the various communities are different. To just sort of lump folks who are not white into … a bucket and to say that they all share the same hopes and dreams, and their communities [face] the same challenges, would be a mistake. As much as there are opportunities for collaboration and connection between various communities, it's important that we're not painting all nonwhites with the same brush.
There are differences in the issues that are priorities for our community — issues like criminal justice and immigration to different parts of the country where our number might be greater, and the different challenges geographically that come with that. It's important that when we're talking about similarities, we also hold up the uniqueness of our differences — and it's important that we don't create this paradigm that it's people of color versus white folks.
White people will still be the largest racial group in the country; they still hold the majority of power, both politically and economically. There's been a tremendous shift in wealth through the economic crisis, where black wealth and Latino wealth has decreased; black wealth is at its lowest point in the past 25 years. The numbers mean nothing without economic and political opportunity.
TR: Are we going to need a new vocabulary, a new word for "minority," when people of color become the majority?
RR: I guess I sort of want to push back against this term "people of color" itself. It's great from an organizing perspective, but our communities are unique, and we're just as unique to one another as we are to white folks.
TR: Do you see the demographic trends continuing, and if they do, will that affect the work you do or the issues you focus on at all?
RR: For ColorOfChange, our goal is to empower the voices of black folks and make sure that democracy works for them, and I don't think that's gonna change. Black people are nowhere near the majority in this country, and there's no sign that that's coming anytime soon.
Our work will continue. And that will require us to engage other communities — our Latino, Asian and white sisters and brothers who want to stand with us and make our voices heard. We'll have to do real work to make sure we're engaging people from all backgrounds on the issues facing our communities.
Jenée Desmond-Harris is The Root's staff writer. Follow her on Twitter.
Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.


text:
|Jepson Flora Project: Jepson Interchange
previous taxon |
next taxon
Jepson Interchange (more information)
©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
Annual to tree
Leaves basal or cauline, alternate to whorled, simple to compound
Inflorescence: 1° inflorescence a head, each resembling a flower, 1many, generally arrayed in cymes, generally subtended by ± calyx-like involucre; flowers 1many per head
Flowers bisexual, unisexual, or sterile, ± small, of several types; calyx 0 or modified into pappus of bristles, scales, or awns, which is generally persistent in fruit; corolla radial or bilateral (rarely 0), lobes generally (0)45; stamens 45, anthers generally fused into cylinder around style, often appendaged at tips, bases, or both, filaments generally free, generally attached to corolla near throat; pistil 1, ovary inferior, 1-chambered, 1-seeded, style 1, branches 2, generally hair-tufted at tip, stigmas 2, generally on inside of style branches
Fruit: achene, cylindric to ovoid, generally deciduous with pappus attached
Genera in family: ± 1300 genera, 21,000 species (largest family of dicots): worldwide. Largest family in CA. Also see tribal key to CA genera: Strother 1997 Madroño 44(1):128. See glossary p. 25 for illustrations of general family characteristics.
Stems generally many from base
Leaves alternate, generally drought-deciduous, simple, petioled, entire or rarely toothed
Inflorescence: heads radiate or discoid, solitary or in cyme-like panicles; peduncles generally long; involucre hemispheric; phyllaries in 23 series, free; receptacle chaffy, scales folded around fruits and falling with them
Ray flowers sterile; style 0; ligules yellow
Disk flowers many; corollas yellow or brown-purple, tube slender, throat abruptly expanded, lobes triangular; anther tips ovate, ± acute; style tips triangular
Fruit strongly compressed, obovate or wedge-shaped; edges long-ciliate; faces glabrous or short-hairy; pappus of 2 narrow scales or 0
Species in genus: 13 species: w North America, w South America
Etymology: (Christopher Encel, 16th century)
Commonly hybridizing, especially in disturbed areas; E. farinosa X E. frutescens is common; E. farinosa X E. californica, E. farinosa X E. actoni, E. actoni X E. frutescens, E. frutescens X E. virginensis, E. farinosa X Geraea canescens have been reported.
Shrub 515 dm, with many slender branches from base
Stems branched below; young stems glabrous; older stems with smooth or roughened bark
Leaves scattered along stems; petioles 525 mm; blades 36 cm, diamond-shaped or narrowly ovate, acute, green, glabrous
Inflorescence: heads radiate, solitary; peduncles hairy; involucre 1012 mm; phyllaries lanceolate
Ray flowers 1525; ligules 1535 mm
Disk flowers: corollas 56 mm, brown-purple
Fruit 57 mm; pappus 0
Chromosomes: 2n=36
Ecology: Coastal scrub
Elevation: < 600 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast, s Central Coast, w Peninsular Ranges, Western Transverse Ranges
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Horticultural information: DRN: 7, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24; IRR: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; also STBL.


text:
Mplus Home
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IRT for continuous item responses
Mplus Discussion
Categorical Data Modeling
Tony LI
posted on Friday, June 25, 2010 - 4:32 pm
Dear Linda, Bengt,
I am wondering if Mplus can model an IRT model for continuous item responses ? (reference below)
Thank you
Mellenbergh, G. J. (1994). A unidimensional latent trait model for continuous item responses.
Multivariate Behavioral Research, 29, 223–236.
[Abstract] Relations are examined between latent trait and latent class models for item response data. Conditions are given for the two-latent class and two-parameter normal ogive models to agree, and relations between their item parameters are presented. Generalizationss are then made to continuous models with more than one latent trait and discrete models with more than two latent classes, and methods are presented for relating latent class models to factor models for dichotomized variables. Results are illustrated using data from the Law School Admission Test, previously analyzed by several authors.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Friday, June 25, 2010 - 5:11 pm
I think this is simply latent class analysis and factor analysis where the outcomes are continuous. Both of these models can be estimated in Mplus.
Tony LI
posted on Friday, June 25, 2010 - 5:31 pm
Sorry Linda, I made a error-the abstract above is for another paper, the correct one is:
[A general linear latent trait model for continuous item responses is described. The special unidimensional case for continuous item responses is Joreskog's (1971) model of congeneric item responses. In the context of the unidimensional case model for continuous item responses the concepts of item and test information functions, specific objectivity, item bias, and reliability are discussed; also the application of the model to test construction is shown. Finally, the correspondence with latent trait theory for dichotomous item responses is discussed. ]
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Saturday, June 26, 2010 - 9:33 am
This sounds like CFA with continuous factor indicators with some equality constraints. This can be done in Mplus.
Cengiz Zopluoglu
posted on Saturday, June 25, 2011 - 3:36 pm
I just want to let you know about an IRT model proposed by Samejima(1973) for continuous responses. Below are two references about the topic. In addition, the model parameters can be estimated by using a recently released R package "EstCRM".
Ferrando, P.J.(2002). Theoretical and Empirical Comparison between Two Models for Continuous Item Responses. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 37(4), 521-542.
Samejima, F.(1973). Homogeneous Case of the Continuous Response Model. Psychometrika, 38(2), 203-219.
Rich Jones
posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2012 - 6:31 pm
I think this can be approached by taking normalized continuous responses (y falling between 0 and 1, but not inclusive), transforming this to logit (as per Samenjima) or probit, and then going about your usual factor analysis business.
I'd be interested if any of the readers or moderators had any thoughts on that.
Cengiz Zopluoglu
posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2012 - 8:44 pm
Hi Rich,
Yes, I think what you have described is known as "heuristic estimation" of CRM item parameters, and a limited-information approach as opposed to the full information approach.
It's first used by Bejar(1977). Heuristic estimation and MML estimation (limited-information vs. full-information) were both theoretically and empirically compared by Ferrando (2002).
Bejar,I.I. (1977). An Application of the Continuous Response Level Model to Personality Measurement.
Ferrando, P.J. (2002). Theoretical and Empirical Comparison between Two Models for Continuous Item Responses. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 37(4), 521-542.
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David Hilbert
Born: 23 January 1862 in Wehlau, near Königsberg, Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia)
Died: 14 February 1943 in Göttingen, Germany
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David Hilbert's father, Otto Hilbert, was the son of a judge who was a high ranking Privy Councillor. Otto was a county judge who had married Maria Therese Erdtmann, the daughter of Karl Erdtmann, a Königsberg merchant. Maria was fascinated by philosophy, astronomy and prime numbers. Otto Hilbert had a brother who was a lawyer and another who was the director of a Gymnasium. After Otto was promoted to become a senior judge, he and Maria moved to 13 Kirchenstrasse in Königsberg and this was the home in which David spent much of his childhood. He had a strict upbringing by his father who was a man who lived his life to a standard pattern, always walking the same way every day and only leaving Königsberg once a year for the annual family holiday. David was his parents' first child and only son. He was six years old when his sister Elsie was born.
The usual age for someone to begin schooling was six but David did not enter his first school, the Royal Friedrichskolleg, until he was eight years old. It is almost certain that his mother taught him at home until he was eight. The Friedrichskolleg, also known as the Collegium Fridericianum, had a junior section which David attended for two years before entering the gymnasium of the Friedrichskolleg in 1872. Although this was reputed to be the best school in Königsberg, the emphasis was on Latin and Greek with mathematics considered as less important. Science was not taught at all in the Friedrichskolleg. The main approach to learning was having pupils memorise large amounts of material, something David was not particularly good at. Perhaps surprisingly for someone who was to make a gigantic impact on mathematics, he did not shine at school. In later life he described himself as a "dull and silly" boy at the Friedrichskolleg. Although doubtless there is modesty in these words, nevertheless they probably reflect Hilbert's own feeling about his school days. In September 1879 he transferred from the Friedrichskolleg to the Wilhelm Gymnasium where he spent his final year of schooling. Here there was more emphasis on mathematics and the teachers encouraged original thinking in a way that had not happened at the Friedrichskolleg. Hilbert was much happier and his performance in all his subjects improved. He received the top grade for mathematics and his final report stated:-
For mathematics he always showed a very lively interest and a penetrating understanding: he mastered all the material taught in the school in a very pleasing manner and was able to apply it with sureness and ingenuity.After graduating from the Wilhelm Gymnasium, he entered the University of Königsberg in the autumn of 1880. In his first semester he took courses on integral calculus, the theory of determinants and the curvature of surfaces. Then following the tradition in Germany at this time, in the second semester he went to Heidelberg where he attended lectures by Lazarus Fuchs. Returning to Königsberg for the start of session 1881-82, Hilbert attended lectures on number theory and the theory of functions by Heinrich Weber. In the spring of 1882, Hermann Minkowski returned to Königsberg after studying in Berlin. Hilbert and Minkowski, who was also a doctoral student, soon became close friends and they were to strongly influence each others mathematical progress. Ferdinand von Lindemann was appointed to Königsberg to succeed Heinrich Weber in 1883 and Adolf Hurwitz was appointed as an extraordinary professor there in the spring of 1884. Hurwitz and Hilbert became close friends, another friendship which was important factor in Hilbert's mathematical development, while Lindemann became Hilbert's thesis advisor. He received his oral examination on 11 December 1884 for his thesis entitled Über invariante Eigenschaften specieller binärer Formen, insbesondere der Kugelfunctionen Ⓣ. Lindemann had suggested that Hilbert study invariant properties of certain algebraic forms and Hilbert showed great originality in devising an approach that Lindemann had not envisaged. Minkowski, after reading the thesis, wrote to Hilbert (see [8]):-
I studied your work with great interest and rejoiced over all the processes which the poor invariants had to pass through before they manage to disappear. I would not have supposed that such a good mathematical theorem could have been obtained in Königsberg.On 7 February 1885 he defended two propositions in a public disputation. One of Hilbert's chosen propositions was on physics, the other on philosophy. This was the final stage of his doctorate, which was then duly awarded. He spent the month following the award of his doctorate taking, and passing, the Staatsexamen so that he was qualified to teach in a Gymnasium, and he also attended Lindemann's geometry course on Plücker's line geometry and Lie's sphere geometry, and he also attended Hurwitz's lectures on modular functions. Hurwitz suggested that Hilbert make a research visit to Leipzig to speak with Felix Klein. Taking this advice, he went to Leipzig and attended Klein's lectures. He also got to know Georg Pick and Eduard Study. Klein suggested that both Hilbert and Study should visit Erlangen and discuss their research with Paul Gordan who was the leading expert on invariant theory. However, the visit did not take place at that time. Klein then told both Study and Hilbert that they should visit Paris. They both went in early 1886, Hilbert at the end of March. Klein had given them instructions as to which of the Paris mathematicians they should visit and they did as he told them, alternately writing to Klein about their experiences. One of the first mathematicians they visited was Henri Poincaré who returned their visit a few days later. The two young visitors read their letters to Klein out loud to each other so that they would not both tell him the same things. He replied to each in turn, making clear that he was treating them equally. In Paris, Camille Jordan gave a dinner for Hilbert and Study to which George-Henri Halphen, Amédée Mannheim and Gaston Darboux were invited. On this occasion the French mathematicians all spoke German out of politeness to their German guests who complained to Klein afterwards that the mathematical conversation had been very superficial. They were also disappointed with their meeting with Pierre Bonnet who they felt was too old for mathematical discussions. The mathematician with whom they seemed to get on best was Charles Hermite. Although they considered him very old (he was 64), he was "extraordinarily friendly and hospitable" and discussed the big problems of invariant theory. Since they had found their visit especially useful, they returned to Hermite's home for a second visit a few days later. It is clear that Hilbert's thoughts were entirely on mathematics during his time in Paris and he wrote nothing of any sightseeing. Towards the end of his visit he suffered an illness and was probably homesick. Certainly by the spring of 1886 he was in good spirits as he returned to Germany. On his way back to Königsberg he visited Göttingen, where Klein was about to take up the chair, where he met Hermann Amandus Schwarz. Telling Schwarz that he was next going to Berlin, Hilbert was advised to expect a cold reception by Leopold Kronecker. However, Hilbert described his welcome in Berlin as very friendly.
From Berlin, Hilbert continued back to Königsberg where he prepared to submit his habilitation paper on invariant theory. He also had to give an inaugural lecture in the main auditorium of the Albertina and, from the two options offered by Hilbert, he was asked to deliver the lecture The most general periodic functions. Klein had told Hilbert that Königsberg may not be a good place for him to habilitate but Hilbert was happy to do so. He wrote to Klein (see for example [8]):-
I am content and full of joy to have decided myself for Königsberg. The constant association with Professor Lindemann and, above all, with Hurwitz is not less interesting than it is advantageous to myself and stimulating. The bad part about Königsberg being so far away from things I hope I will be able to overcome by making some trips again next year, and perhaps then I will get to meet Herr Gordan.He was a member of staff at Königsberg from 1886 to 1895, being a Privatdozent until 1892, then as Extraordinary Professor for one year before being appointed a full professor in 1893. The tour that he spoke about after habilitating at Königsberg happened in 1888 [126]:-
... he set off in March 1888 on a tour of several leading mathematical centres in Germany, including Berlin, Leipzig, and Göttingen. During the course of a month, he spoke with some twenty mathematicians from whom he gained a stimulating overview of current research interests throughout the country.In Berlin he met Kronecker and Weierstrass who presented the young Hilbert with two rather different views of the future. Next, in Leipzig, he finally met Paul Gordan [126]:-
... the two hit it off splendidly, as both loved nothing more than to talk about mathematics.Hilbert spent eight days in Göttingen before returning to Königsberg. He married his second cousin, Käthe Jerosch, on 12 October 1892; they had one son Franz Hilbert born on 11 August 1893.
In 1892 Schwarz moved from Göttingen to Berlin to occupy Weierstrass's chair and Klein wanted to offer Hilbert the vacant Göttingen chair. However Klein failed to persuade his colleagues and Heinrich Weber was appointed to the chair. Klein was probably not too unhappy when Weber moved to a chair at Strasbourg three years later since on this occasion he was successful in his aim of appointing Hilbert. So, in 1895, Hilbert was appointed to the chair of mathematics at the University of Göttingen, where he continued to teach for the rest of his career.
Hilbert's eminent position in the world of mathematics after 1900 meant that other institutions would have liked to tempt him to leave Göttingen and, in 1902, the University of Berlin offered Hilbert Fuchs's chair. Hilbert turned down the Berlin chair, but only after he had used the offer to bargain with Göttingen and persuade them to set up a new chair to bring his friend Minkowski to Göttingen.
As we saw above, Hilbert's first work was on invariant theory and, in 1888, he proved his famous Basis Theorem. Twenty years earlier Gordan had proved the finite basis theorem for binary forms using a highly computational approach. Attempts to generalise Gordan's work to systems with more than two variables failed since the computational difficulties were too great. Hilbert himself tried at first to follow Gordan's approach but soon realised that a new line of attack was necessary. He discovered a completely new approach which proved the finite basis theorem for any number of variables but in an entirely abstract way. Although he proved that a finite basis existed his methods did not construct such a basis.
Hilbert submitted a paper proving the finite basis theorem to Mathematische Annalen. However Gordan was the expert on invariant theory for Mathematische Annalen and he found Hilbert's revolutionary approach difficult to appreciate. He refereed the paper and sent his comments to Klein:-
The problem lies not with the form ... but rather much deeper. Hilbert has scorned to present his thoughts following formal rules, he thinks it suffices that no one contradict his proof ... he is content to think that the importance and correctness of his propositions suffice. ... for a comprehensive work for the 'Annalen' this is insufficient.However, Hilbert had learnt through his friend Hurwitz about Gordan's letter to Klein and Hilbert wrote himself to Klein in forceful terms:-
... I am not prepared to alter or delete anything, and regarding this paper, I say with all modesty, that this is my last word so long as no definite and irrefutable objection against my reasoning is raised.At the time Klein received these two letters from Hilbert and Gordan, Hilbert was an assistant lecturer while Gordan was the recognised leading world expert on invariant theory and also a close friend of Klein's. However Klein recognised the importance of Hilbert's work and assured him that it would appear in the Annalen without any changes whatsoever, as indeed it did.
Hilbert expanded on his methods in a later paper, again submitted to the Mathematische Annalen and Klein, after reading the manuscript, wrote to Hilbert saying:-
I do not doubt that this is the most important work on general algebra that the 'Annalen' has ever published.In 1893 while still at Königsberg Hilbert began a work Zahlbericht Ⓣ on algebraic number theory. The German Mathematical Society requested this major report three years after the Society was created in 1890. The Zahlbericht (1897) is a brilliant synthesis of the work of Kummer, Kronecker and Dedekind but also contains a wealth of Hilbert's own ideas. The ideas of the present day subject of 'Class field theory' are all contained in this work. Rowe, in [124], describes this work as:-
... not really a Bericht in the conventional sense of the word, but rather a piece of original research revealing that Hilbert was no mere specialist, however gifted. ... he not only synthesized the results of prior investigations ... but also fashioned new concepts that shaped the course of research on algebraic number theory for many years to come.An extract from Hilbert's Preface to Zahlbericht is quote 7 in our collection Quotes by and about Hilbert at THIS LINK.
Hilbert's work in geometry had the greatest influence in that area after Euclid. A systematic study of the axioms of Euclidean geometry led Hilbert to propose 21 such axioms and he analysed their significance. He published Grundlagen der Geometrie in 1899 putting geometry in a formal axiomatic setting. The book continued to appear in new editions and was a major influence in promoting the axiomatic approach to mathematics which has been one of the major characteristics of the subject throughout the 20th century.
Reviews of Grundlagen der Geometrie and other of Hilbert's books are at THIS LINK.
More about Grundlagen der Mathematik is at THIS LINK.
Hilbert's famous 23 Paris problems challenged (and still today challenge) mathematicians to solve fundamental questions. Hilbert's famous speech The Problems of Mathematics was delivered to the Second International Congress of Mathematicians in Paris. It was a speech full of optimism for mathematics in the coming century and he felt that open problems were the sign of vitality in the subject:-
The great importance of definite problems for the progress of mathematical science in general ... is undeniable. ... [for] as long as a branch of knowledge supplies a surplus of such problems, it maintains its vitality. ... every mathematician certainly shares ..the conviction that every mathematical problem is necessarily capable of strict resolution ... we hear within ourselves the constant cry: There is the problem, seek the solution. You can find it through pure thought...Hilbert's problems included the continuum hypothesis, the well ordering of the reals, Goldbach's conjecture, the transcendence of powers of algebraic numbers, the Riemann hypothesis, the extension of Dirichlet's principle and many more. Many of the problems were solved during this century, and each time one of the problems was solved it was a major event for mathematics.
For more information about Hilbert's problems see THIS LINK.
Today Hilbert's name is often best remembered through the concept of Hilbert space. Irving Kaplansky, writing in [2], explains Hilbert's work which led to this concept:-
Hilbert's work in integral equations in about 1909 led directly to 20th-century research in functional analysis (the branch of mathematics in which functions are studied collectively). This work also established the basis for his work on infinite-dimensional space, later called Hilbert space, a concept that is useful in mathematical analysis and quantum mechanics. Making use of his results on integral equations, Hilbert contributed to the development of mathematical physics by his important memoirs on kinetic gas theory and the theory of radiations.Many have claimed that in 1915 Hilbert discovered the correct field equations for general relativity before Einstein but never claimed priority. The article [54] however, shows that this view is in error. In this paper the authors show convincingly that Hilbert submitted his article on 20 November 1915, five days before Einstein submitted his article containing the correct field equations. Einstein's article appeared on 2 December 1915 but the proofs of Hilbert's paper (dated 6 December 1915) do not contain the field equations.
As the authors of [54] write:-
In the printed version of his paper, Hilbert added a reference to Einstein's conclusive paper and a concession to the latter's priority: "The differential equations of gravitation that result are, as it seems to me, in agreement with the magnificent theory of general relativity established by Einstein in his later papers". If Hilbert had only altered the dateline to read "submitted on 20 November 1915, revised on [any date after 2 December 1915, the date of Einstein's conclusive paper]," no later priority question would have arisen.In 1934 and 1939 two volumes of Grundlagen der Mathematik Ⓣ were published which were intended to lead to a 'proof theory', a direct check for the consistency of mathematics. Gödel's paper of 1931 showed that this aim is impossible.
See THIS LINK.
Hilbert contributed to many branches of mathematics, including invariants, algebraic number fields, functional analysis, integral equations, mathematical physics, and the calculus of variations. His mathematical abilities were nicely summed up by Otto Blumenthal, his first student [30]:-
In the analysis of mathematical talent one has to differentiate between the ability to create new concepts that generate new types of thought structures and the gift for sensing deeper connections and underlying unity. In Hilbert's case, his greatness lies in an immensely powerful insight that penetrates into the depths of a question. All of his works contain examples from far-flung fields in which only he was able to discern an interrelatedness and connection with the problem at hand. From these, the synthesis, his work of art, was ultimately created. Insofar as the creation of new ideas is concerned, I would place Minkowski higher, and of the classical great ones, Gauss, Galois, and Riemann. But when it comes to penetrating insight, only a few of the very greatest were the equal of Hilbert.Among Hilbert's students were Hermann Weyl, the famous world chess champion Emanuel Lasker, and Ernst Zermelo. But the list includes many other famour names including Wilhelm Ackermann, Felix Bernstein, Otto Blumenthal, Richard Courant, Haskell Curry, Max Dehn, Rudolf Fueter, Alfred Haar, Georg Hamel, Erich Hecke, Earle Hedrick, Ernst Hellinger, Edward Kasner, Oliver Kellogg, Hellmuth Kneser, Otto Neugebauer, Erhard Schmidt, Hugo Steinhaus, and Teiji Takagi.
In 1930 Hilbert retired but only a few years later, in 1933, life in Göttingen changed completely when the Nazis came to power and Jewish lecturers were dismissed. By the autumn of 1933 most had left or were dismissed. Hilbert, although retired, had still been giving a few lectures. In the winter semester of 1933-34 he gave one lecture a week on the foundations of geometry. After he finished giving this course he never set foot in the Institute again. In early 1942 he fell and broke his arm while walking in Göttingen. This made him totally inactive and this seems to have been a major factor in his death a year after the accident.
Hilbert received many honours. In 1905 the Hungarian Academy of Sciences gave a special citation for Hilbert. He was awarded the Bolyai Prize in 1910 and elected a fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1928. In 1930 Hilbert retired and the city of Königsberg made him an honorary citizen of the city. He gave an address which ended with six famous words showing his enthusiasm for mathematics and his life devoted to solving mathematical problems:-
Wir müssen wissen, wir werden wissen - We must know, we shall know.See quote 3 at THIS LINK.
In 1939 he was awarded the Mittag-Leffler prize by the Swedish Academy of Sciences. He shared this Prize with Émile Picard. Hilbert was elected an honorary member of the London Mathematical Society in 1901 and of the German Mathematical Society in 1942.
For quotes which describe Hilbert's personality and hobbies see 5 and 10 at THIS LINK.
Article by: J J O'Connor and E F Robertson
Click on this link to see a list of the Glossary entries for this page
List of References (168 books/articles)
Some Quotations (27)
A Poster of David Hilbert
Mathematicians born in the same country
Additional Material in MacTutor
- David Hilbert's 24 Problems
- Hilbert's 24 problems speech
- Weyl on Hilbert and Hilbert on others
- Otto Blumenthal's role at the Mathematische Annalen
- Quotes by and about David Hilbert
- Reviews of David Hilbert's books
- David Hilbert's Grundlagen der Mathematik
- David Hilbert's doctoral students
- Wilhelm Ahrens book of quotes
Honours awarded to David Hilbert
(Click the link below for those honoured in this way)
|Lunar features
|Crater Hilbert
|Popular biographies list
|Number 31
|International Congress Speaker
|LMS Honorary Member
|Speaker at International Congress
|Fellow of the Royal Society
|DVR Honorary Member
Cross-references in MacTutor
- History Topics: Abstract linear spaces
- History Topics: The beginnings of set theory
- History Topics: General relativity
- History Topics: An overview of the history of mathematics
- History Topics: The real numbers: Stevin to Hilbert
- History Topics: The real numbers: Attempts to understand
- History Topics: The development of Ring Theory
- History Topics: Topology enters mathematics
- History Topics: Word problems for groups
- Chronology: 1890 to 1900
- Chronology: 1900 to 1910
- Danish Mathematical Society
- German Mathematical Society
- Hellenic Mathematical Society
- 1982 ICM - Warsaw
- 1990 ICM - Kyoto
- 1900 ICM - Paris
- 1904 ICM - Heidelberg
- 1908 ICM - Rome
- 1928 ICM - Bologna
- 1932 ICM - Zurich
- 1936 ICM - Oslo
Other Web sites
- Dictionary of Scientific Biography
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
- David Joyce (A list of Hilbert's 23 problems)
- The text of his 1900 speech
- H K Strick
- Clark Kimberling
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Hilbert's programme)
- A radio speech by Hilbert (with a link to an MP3 file)
- Mathematical Genealogy Project
- MathSciNet Author profile
- zbMATH entry
- ERAM Jahrbuch entry


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Why have a score for Bodhrán?
There is debate in the Bodhrán community, as to whether the playing should be written down or not. No Bodhrán player I know plays a tune the same way twice, and it is very much playing with the feel of the music.
Having said that, when I first started Bodhrán drumming I found it useful to have a guide as to what to do, so adding Bodhrán to MuseScore may help beginners. Also it would be useful to have the drumming added to a Tin Whistle score, for example, which gives a feel for what the two instruments will sound together.
However if you are dead set against Bodhrán notation, then I understand :-)


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Blast at Pakistan procession kills at least 16: officials
Thursday November 22 2012
A blast during a religious procession on Wednesday left at least 16 people dead and several others injured in the city of Rawalpindi in an attack by a suicide bomber, police and rescue officials said.
It was the third attack in Pakistan on Wednesday when at least 28 people were killed in bomb blasts and ambushes across the country -- a day before it hosts world leaders in the Developing 8 (D8) summit.
The blast occurred when a procession by minority Shiite Muslims was marching towards a mosque in the downtown area of Rawalpindi, which neighbours the capital Islamabad, said police.
"The total number of dead people has now reached 16. Some 32, including nine children, have got injured," Waqas Rehman, a spokesman for the Rescue 1122 service, told AFP.
Rawalpindi police chief said that the blast occurred when a suicide bomber entered the procession and the security officials were checking him.
"The suicide bomber blew himself up when the security officials were checking (his body). We had prior information about the attacks and were fully alert," said Azhar Hameed Khokhar.
Khokhar said that the authorities will run a DNA test of the body parts of the bomber to determine his links.
Another police official, Muhammad Haroon, told AFP that the attack took place when the procession was almost 500 metres from the mosque where it was heading.
Thursday's D8 summit, designed to boost trade and investment, will bring together leaders from Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Pakistan rarely hosts major international gatherings because of troubles with violence and its reputation as a hub for Islamist extremism in the northwest.


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Farmingdale State - 65, Mount Saint Vincent - 46
Riverdale, N.Y. - The Farmingdale State men's basketball team shot over 50-percent in the second half to come home with 65-46 victory against the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Monday, February 17th at the Peter Jay Sharp Center. The Rams improved to 17-6, 13-3 in Skyline play with the win while the Dolphins dropped to 7-16, 5-11 in conference play.
Mount Saint Vincent jumped out to an early lead, 11-1, forcing five turnovers in the first four minutes. But Farmingdale held the Dolphins to just 14 more points before the half, and were tied 25-25 at the break.
In the second, senior center Donald Lawes (Queens, N.Y.) dunked on the Rams first possession to give his team a 27-25 lead. Farmingdale State held Mount Saint Vincent to just 25-percent shooting in the second, holding the lead throughout, en route to the 19-point win.
Lawes finished with a game-high 18 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Senior guard Timothy Johnson (Queens, N.Y.) had 10 points, four assists and seven boards, while senior guard Jonathan Annan (Staten Island, N.Y.) totaled four assists and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
For the Dolphins, Kahlil Shorter scored 15 points, while Brandon Serrano posted 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Rams will now travel to face St. Joseph's on Wednesday, February 19th at 8:00 p.m.


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NIU Graduate School
The graduate school at Northern Illinois University offers over 80 graduate degree programs and 50 specializations. In addition to master's and doctoral degrees in our six colleges, we offer graduate certificates in over 65 courses of study.
Contacting the individual program office is the quickest and best way to get the information you need about program requirements, research opportunities or faculty expertise. View our list of master's programs and doctoral programs.
To help you plan your course of study, search NIU's future course offerings.
The graduate school website guides prospective students through the online application process. Questions about the application process can be addressed to the graduate school. For application deadlines and requirements, review our list of master's programs and doctoral programs.
Become a member of the Graduate Career and Professional Development Community Portal, a centralized site of professional development programming through use of hands-on workshops that engage graduate students in job discovery and diverse career opportunities.
If you are a current NIU graduate student, visit our Student Resources where you will find helpful online forms, graduation information and links to the Thesis/Dissertation Office.
Graduate School Dates and Events
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The grad school application process may seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Sign up now to receive our list of Top Ten Things to Do When Applying to NIU's Graduate School.
Contact UsThe Graduate School
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Browse: Home / enterasys
When Network Is Part of Your Social Graph
By Krishnan Subramanian on June 22, 2011
Technology is completely reshaping both our personal lives and business activities. We are living in an era where the rate of technological evolution outpaces our adoption rate. We are soon going to be living in a world where technology completely automates the way we live and change our lives in ways we cannot comprehend today. […]
Posted in Featured Posts, Trends & Concepts | Tagged enterasys, infrastructure, insights, Isaac, IT, network monitoring | 1 Response


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Job Information
Swedish Medical Center Medical Assistant - Redmond Urgent Care in Redmond, Washington
Swedish Medical Group is looking for a Medical Assistant (0.5 FTE, Days) to work at Swedish Redmond Urgent Care in Redmond, WA.
Medical Assistants play a critical role on the Swedish team by supporting the work of physicians and other caregivers, keeping the team organized and assisting patients. You'll need good written and interpersonal communication skills to help people through what can be complex processes and unfamiliar situations.
In this position you will:
Greet and room patients in the clinic setting
Obtain vital signs and gather pertinent patient information
Assist with adult and child immunizations
May draw blood; perform common clinic screening tests, such as, but not limited to EKG, lab, X-ray and other diagnostic tests
Inform patients of lab results, call in prescriptions to pharmacies and return practitioners phone messages as directed
Accurately update electronic medical record (EMR)
Required qualifications for this position include:
Graduate of an accredited medical assisting program
State of Washington Medical Assistant Certification; (CM) Certified or (IC) Interim Certified required at the time of hire
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
Ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail
Demonstrated PC skills, i.e. proficient with MS Office products including Word, Excel, and Outlook
Ability to communicate both in writing and verbally
Prior experience providing a high level of customer service in a fast paced environment
Preferred qualifications for this position include:
Experience using Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
Minimum one year of medical assisting in a clinic setting
Previous EPIC experience
Added Position Benefits:
$3,000 Sign-on bonus
Relocation available
$1,000 employee referral bonus offered
About Swedish Medical Group
Swedish Medical Group (SMG) is a successful, performance-driven division of Swedish Health Services, the largest non-profit health provider in the Greater Seattle area. The SMG network includes more than 900 providers across more than 130 primary care and specialty care clinics.
We offer a full comprehensive range of benefits — see our website for details
Our Mission
Our nonprofit Mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of each person we serve. Our Vision is to demonstrate the highest-quality, best-value healthcare to all we serve.
About Us
Swedish is the largest nonprofit health care provider in the greater Seattle area. It is comprised of five hospital campuses (First Hill, Cherry Hill, Ballard, Edmonds and Issaquah); ambulatory care centers in Redmond and Mill Creek; and Swedish Medical Group a network of more than 118 primary care and specialty locations throughout the Puget Sound. Swedish employs more than 13,300 employees and 3,100 physicians and allied health professionals. Whether through physician clinics, education, research and innovation or other outreach, we're committed to caring for the people in our region and beyond. Swedish is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Swedish does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, disability, protected veteran, military status, religion, age, creed, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
Schedule: Part-time
Shift: Day
Job Category: Medical Assistant
Location: Washington-Redmond
Work Locations: Redmond Main Bldg (WA173) 18100 Ne Union Hill Rd Redmond, 98052
Req ID: 252247


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Poria Cocos
Veterinarian Reviewed on January 10, 2012 by Paulina Nelega, RH
Posted in Uncategorized
Poria Cocos
Poria cocos may be called Poria, Tuckahoe, Indian bread or Fu-Ling in Chinese. Poria cocos is a mushroom which is used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been widely accepted in modern medicine as a treatment for inflammation and as a central nervous system depressant.
Poria cocos looks like a potato that may be seen growing in pine tree roots and dead barks. The Poria cocos can destroy timber if left unattended. This mushroom has a soft texture with a sweet flavor when used in cooking. The Poria cocos is usually dried and used in ancient Chinese medication.
History and Origin
The Poria cocos is known in traditional Asian medicine to treats dampness, which is beneficial for people who are suffering from Insomnia. The Poria cocos is well known in more traditional Korean folklore as a medicinal herb which is a blessing from the Gods.
Ancient Uses
The Poria cocos was primarily used in ancient times as a treatment for tumors, inflammation and also used to treat a myriad of diseases commonly found in animals.
Modern Uses
The modern times has led to the research and clinical studies of the Poria cocos this mushroom contains monosaccharide that is responsible for its anti tumor properties. The Poria cocos has anti inflammatory properties that is essential for the treatment of joint pain, swelling and redness in rheumatoid arthritis. It has also diuretic properties that can benefit congestive heart failure and also edema in many types of illnesses. The Poria cocos also has antiemetic properties and can also benefit many gastrointestinal problems. Its central nervous system effects have also made the Poria cocos an invaluable treatment for depression. The effect of Poria cocos in depression is comparable to the anti depressant drug Prozac when it comes to effectiveness and therapeutic effects.
The dosing of Poria cocos is not yet established; contraindications of Poria cocos with any medication has not yet been determined as well. Ear edema, paw and joint edema have been noted to have decreased in dogs and mice. Dermatitis in small mammals was also treated.
The use of Poria cocos for the treatment of cancer is still under research. Recent studies have been made regarding the cancer-fighting capabilities of this mushroom and clinical trials are still under way to determine the direct effect of Poria cocos.
In animals, the use of Poria cocos is for the treatment of inflammation and pain of joints and connective tissue.
Side Effects
The use of Poria cocos for its therapeutic benefits must be consulted to a medical professional. Since the dosage of this mushroom is not yet established it is wise to ask for its dosage for your particular illness from your naturopathic doctor or herbalist as well.
Poria cocos is definitely contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women since it can pose as a risk to the unborn and developing fetus. The effect of Poria cocos on very young children is not yet established either. Interactions with other drugs may be possible so the use of this herbal remedy must be carefully considered before treatment.
Suggested Products
Our Expert
Paulina Nelega, RH, has been in private practice as a Clinical Herbalist for over 15 years. She has developed and taught courses in herbal medicine, and her articles on health have appeared in numerous publications. She is very passionate about the healing power of nature. Ask Dr. Jan


text: I just receive a call from from +88626639119, HTC consultant form Taiwan regarding my response to their feedback form. Regarding the HTC Sense application which it automatically download all my contact list without my consent/approval. So my phone book loaded with the emails and phone number. Few hard reset activity been done before but still the issues were raise also my compass showing the wrong way. The consultant already divert my issue to the technical team to be review the problems. It is a very good effort from HTC, for them their customer is very important and after sales support also very sustainable. Hope some telco provider in Malaysia did the same things not after few complaint and shouting to them.


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Philadelphia-based canning and jamming queen Marisa McClellan, of Food in Jars blog fame, swings through the Bay Area this week offering a series of classes, workshops, and book signings for fans of putting up. The author, whose new book Food in Jars: Preserving in Small Batches Year-Round, is likely to be well received here, given this region's current preoccupation with preserving — though, okay, maybe it doesn't quite rival the D.I.Y. zeal of picklers in Portland.
We'll let McClellan be the judge of that, given her West Coast pedigree. A former Californian (she was born in Hollywood), who lived in L.A. until she was nine, McClellan moved with her family to Portland and went to college in Washington state. Post college, she relocated to Pennsylvania to take care of her ailing grandmother and wound up staying put — and rediscovering the old-fashioned practice of putting up.
Growing up on the West Coast, McClellan had apple and plum trees and blackberry bushes in easy reach. She went blueberry picking and came home to preserve with a mom who was touched by the back-to-the-land hippie vibe of that time and place. Every summer, McClellan remembers making a dozen jars of jam and filling the freezer with bags of apple sauce. It was just something she grew up knowing how to do, it wasn't like her family was canning crazy.
But that can-do spirit never left McClellan, who writes a weekly pickling post for Serious Eats. The old-fashion practice became a modern passion and ended up finding a home in her new book, a collection of recipes for jams, jellies, marmalades, pickles, relishes, and chutneys — with some syrups, sauces, and salsas thrown in for good measure, along with a boozy infusion or two. (See below for select recipes.)
BAB caught up with McClellan at the recent BlogHer Food conference in Seattle. As a former Portlandian, it must be noted that this canner was dispensing cookbook postcards via a thoroughly au courant little purse with, yes, dear readers, birds on it. Proving, perhaps, that you can take the pickler out of Portland, but you can't take Portlandia out of this preserver.
How is your book different from all the other canning, jamming, and pickling cookbooks already out there?
It's a modern take on small batch canning — between three and four pints. Most classic canning recipes are designed to fill a canning pot, we're talking seven to nine pints. Living in a small apartment I found that was always far too much: My apartment is a little less than 1,100 square feet and my kitchen is about 80 square feet, so storage and counter space are at a premium. For me, small batches are a way to be creative and explore different flavor combinations without canning taking up my whole life.
How would you characterize the canning community here?
The West Coast canning scene is about three or four years ahead of the East Coast — that's just how things tend to happen in food trends — the East Coast is a little slower to pick up on things. The West Coast has ridiculously beautiful produce. California, Oregon, and Washington are all blessed, and people should remember not to take it for granted.
What do you miss about West Coast eating and drinking?
Pennsylvania has a lot of obnoxious liquor laws. I miss being able to buy a bottle of wine in the grocery store.
I miss the general aesthetic and attitude of the West Coast around food — especially California — everybody is really engaged in food here, whether it's preserving or wanting to make things from scratch. On the East Coast I often feel like I'm shouting to an empty room.
What's wonderful on the food front where you live?
We get really great sour cherries. And sour cherry jam is one of my favorite jams to make. So I feel really lucky to live in a place that has such an abundant sour cherry season.
We're also fortunate to have the classic Brandywine tomato, which is originally from Pennsylvania. It was developed for that soil and it grows beautifully in that area. It's particularly good for sauces and salsas.
How do you explain the new-found popularity of putting up?
So many factors have come together right now to make preserving popular again. There's the locavore movement: If you want to eat locally and have variety through the winter and live in a colder place, as I do, then you've got to can. There's the fact that people want some control over their food — they want to avoid chemicals or BPA — and the best way to know what's in your food is by canning it yourself. There are also economic factors: People need to save money and canning can be one way to do that.
And there's also the fact that many people are really disconnected from their food and they want to be more in touch with it and canning is a way to do that too. All those factors are coming together and making it just a perfect storm for food preservation.
What's a good gateway savory and sweet option for novice preservers?
On the vegetable side: basic refrigerator pickle, you don't even have to do the boiling water bath process. It's just chopping cucumbers, adding some garlic and other spices, pouring some hot vinegar over it, and letting it sit in the refrigerator for a day or two. That makes the best, crunchiest, most flavorful pickle you've ever had. They'll stay crisp and good in the refrigerator for three or four weeks as opposed to six to twelve months on the shelf but the texture is better if you just do it as a refrigerator pickle.
On the fruit side: blueberry jam because blueberries are very high in natural pectin, so even a beginner is going to get a good jammy set out of blueberries. Strawberries — which new jammers often try first — are one of the hardest to get a good set out of, so they end up with a failure, a strawberry syrup, and they're disappointed and may not make jam again because it didn't turn out. Blueberry jam always turns out.
How do you feel about the cult status and gentle mockery of preserving by the Portlandia crew: "We Can Pickle That!"
At first I was sort of uneasy about the whole Portlandia thing and now I love it. I feel like: Why not? The more people talk about this stuff the better. It's making fun of it but it's doing it in a loving way and that's fine with me. I laugh when I watch Portlandia because I feel like I know those people, I grew up with those people.
Recipe: Apricot Jam
Apricot was not part of my childhood repertoire of jams. When it came to homemade jams, we were more of a plum and blueberry crowd. So I never gave it much thought until the day someone introduced me to the company "We Love Jam" and their Blenheim apricot jam, and it blew my preserve-lovin' mind.
While I can't get those precious Blenheims where I live, I've found that just about any locally grown, tree-ripened apricot makes stellar jam and I can't really see going a year without its sweet-tart goodness for spreading on buttered toast.
Makes: 3 (1 pint/500 ml) jars
6 cups peeled, pitted, and diced apricots (about 3 pounds/1.4 kg whole apricots)
31/2 cups/700 g granulated sugar
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
Prepare a boiling water bath and 3 regular-mouth 1-pint/500 ml jars according to the process on page 11.
Place the lids in a small saucepan, cover them with water, and simmer over very low heat.
Combine the apricots and sugar in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 10 to 15 minutes, until the fruit is tender and the liquid looks syrupy.
Add the lemon juice and zest and return to a boil. Insert your candy thermometer into the jam and attach it to the side of the pot. Let the jam boil vigorously until it reaches 220°F/105°C.
When the jam has reached 220°F/105°C and the temperature has remained steady for 2 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and ladle the jam into the prepared jars. Wipe the rims, apply the lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
This post originally appeared on KQED's Bay Area Bites.
You might also like:
FoodWorks: Canning Company Preserves Marin's Produce
Vanessa Barrington: The D.I.Y. Delicious Diva
June Taylor's Artisan Way With Fruit
Canning for a Cause: Let's Preserve
Jam Maker Dafna Kory Turns Hobby Into Thriving Business


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<< back to Teachings at mar de jade
Location: Mar de Jade
In topic: General Topics in Buddhism
Buddha's Way of Answering Questions - Talk 4 Mar de Jade Dec 2012By Zoketsu Norman Fischer | Dec 03, 2012
Location: Mar de Jade
In topic: General Topics in Buddhism
Norman gives the fourth talk on Buddha's Way of Answering Questions to the Mar de Jade December 2012 Sesshin.
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by Couto Homes | Jan 25, 2017 | 0 comments
by Couto Homes | Jan 25, 2017 | 0 comments
We want to thank you for our beautiful houses. It took so much work, time and money, and many people to give us the houses that we wanted. We really appreciate all you have done to give us the houses that we truly love! Thank you so much.
Caren, Sandy and Jim
We were overcome with happiness and thoroughly surprised by generosity and thoughtfulness. Who knew that our new home building experience would end with new found friends – The Couto and staff. We think of you often and recommend Couto Homes to anyone and everyone.
Tom & Linda Roman
I want to thank you all again for the extra work you did to make our new home handicap accessible. Diane is in a wheelchair again after surgery on both feet and the wide doors, bars, and roll in shower have made her recovery so much more pleasant. I appreciate all your hard work.
Devin & Cheryl Lindsey Granbury, TX
We love our new patio home. We love all the attention to detail that you put into your homes.
Stephen & Carolyn
Thank you and your company for the lovely home you built, we are so fortunate to live in it, and we love it! A very special thanks to Joey Couto for always promptly addressing any questions we have had. Wonderful job and great attitude!
Kym and Durell Dantin


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Home to Disneyland and sandy California beaches, Orange County is a great place to experience the best of the Golden State. A holiday rental home will allow you to live the California dream. Whether you opt for a bungalow rental in fun-loving Huntington Beach or an upscale beach house in upscale Laguna, we've got something for you. Great deals are available. And we have user reviews of all rentals, so you can be sure what you see is what you get.
Choosing where to stay in Orange County largely depends on whether you plan to spend more time on the region's sandy beaches or at Disneyland. A beachfront rental in one of the beach cities will allow you walk out to the beach for surfing or biking along the shore or just playing in the sand. If you're staying in Newport, take a walk through town for a bite of California cuisine and shopping at upscale boutiques. Golfers can hit one of the area's noted courses. Take a short drive inland for a day trip to Disneyland or Knott's Berry Farm.
No matter where you stay in Orange County, you'll be close to the area's biggest attraction – Disneyland. Planning several days at Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure? Look for a holiday rental home Disneyland hometown Anaheim or nearby Irvine. You'll also be close to Knott's Berry Farm. Prefer to play at the beach? Consider a beach rental in Newport Beach or Laguna Beach, where you can play in the sand or rent bikes for riding along beach paths.
Wedged between Los Angeles and San Diego, Orange County is at the center of southern California's best attractions. Animal lovers can take a road trip to San Diego for a trip to SeaWorld or the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Movie buffs can drive up to Los Angeles for a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For a chance at actual star spotting, go shopping in nearby Beverly Hills.
It may not have the Hollywood glitz of L.A., but Orange County can still be a pricy holiday spot. A holiday rental home will save you money – discounts are available for every budget. Plus, save money by eating in your rental kitchen rather than dining out for each meal.
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The Bighorn Mountains (Apsáalookěi: Basawaxaawúua or Iisaxpúatahchee Isawaxaawúua[1]) are a mountain range in northern Wyoming and southern Montana in the United States, forming a northwest-trending spur from the Rocky Mountains extending approximately 200 miles (320 km) northward on the Great Plains. They are separated from the Absaroka Range, which lie on the main branch of the Rockies in western Wyoming, by the Bighorn Basin.
The Bighorns were uplifted during the Laramide orogeny beginning approximately 70 million years ago. They consist of over 9,000 feet (2,700 m) of sedimentary rock strata laid down before mountain-building began: the predominantly marine and near-shore sedimentary layers range from the Cambrian through the Lower Cretaceous, and are often rich in fossils. There is an unconformity where Silurian strata were exposed to erosion and are missing. Following the uplift, large volumes of sediments, rich in early Tertiary fossils, were deposited in the adjoining basins. Though many cirques, U-shaped valleys and glacial lakes can be found in the mountain range, the only remaining active glacier is the Cloud Peak Glacier, which is on the east slope of Cloud Peak.
The highest peaks within the Bighorns are located in Wyoming in the 1.12 million acre (4,500 km²) Bighorn National Forest. Two peaks rise to over 13,000 feet (3,960 m) Cloud Peak (13,175 ft, 4013 m) and Black Tooth Mountain (13,005 ft, 3964 m). There are a dozen more that rise to over 12,000 feet (3,650 m). From the east the mountains present a vertical relief of over 8,000 feet (2,450 m), rising abruptly from the plains. Overall, the Bighorns are more rounded than their sister mountain ranges to the west.
The Cloud Peak Wilderness is the centerpiece of a roadless block of land around 189,000 acres in size. The Wilderness is surrounded by unprotected acreage of U.S National Forest as well as Bureau of Land Management, state, and some private land.[2] Most of the Cloud Peak Wilderness is above the tree line; the unprotected lands surrounding it are lower in elevation and covered in coniferous forests.[2] Mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, and mountain lion are found throughout the area.[2]
Two more large roadless areas remained in the Bighorns as of 1992. It is unknown whether these areas have since been reduced in size by road-building and other development. Both areas straddle the Montana-Wyoming state line, in the northern part of the range. One area, north of U.S. Route 14A and containing the headwaters of the Little Bighorn River, is 155,000 acres of National Forest land.[2] This little-known region features subalpine terrain cut by steep canyons.[2] Pronghorn inhabit the area, as it includes a portion of the Great Plains.[2] What little human use it receives is from hunters and fishermen.[2] The second roadless area is located mainly on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana; its 144,000 acres also includes 34,000 acres of Devil's Canyon on the Bighorn N.F. in Wyoming.[2] In this part of the range, semidesert prairie is cut by steep canyons leading to Yellowtail Reservoir, and high, Douglas-fir cloaked ridges top out at over 9,000'.[2] Colorful rock formations are common. Rocky Mountain juniper and limber pine are scattered on lower elevations, and wildlife includes pronghorn, rattlesnake, golden eagle, ferruginous hawk, and mule deer.[2] The Crow Indians manage a wild bison herd on this portion of the Bighorns.[2] The Crow lands are a sacred area, and thus are off-limits to non-tribal members.[2]
The three highways traversing the Bighorns are designated Scenic Byways by the US Forest Service and the State of Wyoming.[3] These include U.S. Routes 14, 14A, and 16.
The range is the location of the headwaters of the Little Bighorn, Tongue, and Powder rivers.
Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area consists of approximately 120,000 acres (490 km2) within the Bighorn Mountains. It includes Bighorn Lake, a reservoir damming the Bighorn River.
In 2015, a sudden, huge 'gash' was found in Wyoming's Big Horn Mountains. The Wyoming Geological Survey studied the area and determined that "The Crack" may be the result of an "apparent active landslide" in the southern end of the Big Horn Mountains.[4]
The Bighorns are a popular destination for hiking, backpacking, fly fishing, horse back riding and increasingly ATV riding and snowmobiling. Trails wind through most of the national forest. The Cloud Peak Wilderness has a network of hiking trails to remote areas and alpine lakes. Higher trails are often covered with snow except from July through August. After Labor Day, there is a good chance of high country snow storms at any time.
The Bighorns are home to one of the elite ultramarathons in the nation. The Bighorn Trail Run is held every June.
The Sioux, Crow, and Cheyenne Indians have long considered the Bighorns sacred mountains.[2]
South Dakota, Great Falls, Montana, Billings, Montana, Wyoming, Missoula, Montana
South Dakota, Utah, Uinta County, Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho
Canada, Alberta, United States, British Columbia, Wyoming
Montana, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, City, Yellowstone National Park, Montana Territory
New York City, United States, American Civil War, Hawaii, Western United States
Sheridan County, Wyoming, Wyoming, Sheridan, Wyoming, United States, Boy Scouts of America
Alaska, Colorado, California, Navd 88, Ngvd 29
Wyoming, Montana, Big Horn County, Montana, Sheridan County, Wyoming, Helena, Montana
Wyoming, Johnson County, Wyoming, United States, Bighorn Mountains, Bighorn National Forest
Wyoming, Cody, Wyoming, Powell, Wyoming, Montana, Cretaceous


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Modeling the Collimator-Detector Scattering Using Stochastic Differential Equations and COMSOLA. Jeremic[1], T. Farncombe[2], S. Liu[2], and Y. Abdul-Rehman[1]
[1]Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
[2]Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a nuclear medicine imaging technique that uses gamma rays. It has been especially useful for bone scans, cardiac perfusion imaging, tumor scans and brain imaging. The main advantage of SPECT imaging is that it can target particular tissue receptors allowing one to focus on the imaging of the diseased tissue. In most cases Monte Carlo simulations are employed in order to calculate probability density functions of scattered photons. In this paper we utilize transport equations modeling photon flow based on the definition of Markov processes and present the equivalent set of stochastic differential equation. Then, we solve the corresponding differential equations for an arbitrarily shaper collimator whose geometry is constructed using COMSOL GUI.


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Breast density, as determined by mammography, is already known to be a strong and independent risk factor for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS) considers women with extremely dense breasts to be at moderately increased risk of cancer and recommends they talk with their doctors about adding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screening to their yearly mammograms.
Nicholas Perry, M.B.B.S., FRCS, FRCR
"Women under age 50 are most at risk from density-associated breast cancer, and breast cancer in younger women is frequently of a more aggressive type, with larger tumors and a higher risk of recurrence," said the study's senior author, Nicholas Perry, M.B.B.S., FRCS, FRCR, director at the London Breast Institute in London, U.K.
For the new study, Dr. Perry and colleagues compared breast density and cancer risk between younger and older women and analyzed how the risk relates to changes in breast density over time. The study group included 282 breast cancer cases and 317 healthy control participants who underwent full-field digital mammography, with breast density measured separately using an automated volumetric system.
"In general, we refer to breast density as being determined by mammographic appearance, and that has, by and large, in the past been done by visual estimation by the radiologist—in other words, subjective and qualitative," Dr. Perry said. "The automated system we used in the study is an algorithm that can be automatically and easily applied to a digital mammogram, which allows an objective and, therefore, quantitative density measurement that is reproducible."
Breast cancer patients showed higher mammographic density than healthy participants up to the age of 50. The healthy controls demonstrated a significant decline in density with age following a linear pattern, while there was considerably more variability in density regression among the breast cancer patients.
"The results are interesting, because there would appear to be some form of different biological density mechanism for normal breasts compared to breasts with cancer, and this appears to be most obvious for younger women," Dr. Perry said. "This is not likely to diminish the current ACS guidelines in any way, but it might add a new facet regarding the possibility of an early mammogram to establish an obvious risk factor, which may then lead to enhanced screening for those women with the densest breasts."
For instance, some women might undergo a modified exposure exam at age 35 to establish breast density levels, Dr. Perry noted. Those with denser breast tissue could then be followed more closely with mammography and additional imaging like MRI or ultrasound for earlier cancer detection and treatment.
"It has been estimated that about 40 percent of life years lost to breast cancer are from women under 50 diagnosed outside of screening programs," Dr. Perry said. "In my practice, which is largely composed of urban professional women, 40 percent of cancers year to year are diagnosed in women under 50, and 10 percent in women younger than 40."
Co-authors are Katja Pinker-Domenig, M.D., Kefah Mokbel, M.B.B.S., FRCS, Sue E. Milner, B.Sc., and Stephen W. Duffy, M.Sc.
# # #
Note: Copies of other RSNA 2013 news releases and electronic images will be available online at RSNA.org/press13 beginning Monday, Dec. 2.
RSNA is an association of more than 53,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists, promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)
Editor's note: The data in these releases may differ from those in the published abstract and those actually presented at the meeting, as researchers continue to update their data right up until the meeting. To ensure you are using the most up-to-date information, please call the RSNA Newsroom at 1-312-949-3233.
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Indicative Rate * AU$120 to AU$525
Neptune Resort is the ideal accommodation choice and location for families and couples wanting to experience the fun and atmosphere of Broadbeach without blowing the budget.
Comfortable and well located, Neptune Resort is in the heart of Broadbeach. Though there is boundless fun to be had in the resort, you are sure to venture out to some of the local Gold Coast attractions - all within a short walk from Neptune Resort. Jupiters Casino, Gold Coast Convention Centre, Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant, Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and some of the best bars and restaurants on the Gold Coast. Famous Kurrawa beach, patrolled by lifeguards, guaranteed simple family fun and only a stone's throw away. Public transport on the doorstep is a bonus as well. Their location is tops, no car required!
All apartments are fully self-contained including full kitchens, laundry facilities and balcony. Free Wi-Fi available. Enjoy great resort leisure facilities including a heated swimming pool, spa, gymnasium, sauna, full-sized tennis court, onsite cafe and free undercover parking.
Broadbeach is a wonderful holiday destination that can be as casual and relaxed or as fun and energetic as you like.
Fully self-contained comfortable and conveniently located one bedroom apartment. Offering great value accommodation in the heart of Broadbeach.
Apartments includes- Air conditioning, Balcony, Laundry facilities, Full kitchen facilities, Hairdryer, Separate shower & bath, TV, Iron & ironing board, Non-smoking only, Refrigerator – full size, & Satellite / Cable
Wireless / WiFi ( charges apply)
Perfect for families after a great value holiday apartment in the heart of Broadbeach. Fully self contained comfortable and roomy two bedroom apartment.
Their two bedroom Apartments contain air conditioning, balcony, laundry facilities, full kitchen facilities, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, non -smoking only, refrigerator – full size, satellite / cable, separate shower and bath, tea/coffee making, television and wireless / WiFi ( charges apply)
Sit back, relax and enjoy the ocean views from the balcony of your fully self-contained two bedroom penthouse apartment. Offering all the comforts of home, with a lofted Master Bedroom and ensuite with triangular corner spa bath. Enjoy being in the heart of Broadbeach in style.
The 2 Bedroom Penthouse includes- Air conditioning, Balconies, Laundry facilities, Full kitchen facilities, Hairdryer, Iron & ironing board, Non – smoking only, Refrigerator – full size, Satellite / Cable, Separate shower & bath, Tea/Coffee Making, TV & Wireless / WiFi ( charges apply)
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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District of Columbia releases plan to become healthier, greener, more sustainable city
The Sustainable DC Plan outlines two decades of changes.
by Catherine Krikstan
February 22, 2013
The District of Columbia has outlined the steps it will take to become the healthiest, greenest and most livable city in the United States.
The Sustainable DC Plan, released this week by the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) and Office of Planning (OE), sets forth more than 100 actions that are meant to improve the District's energy consumption, waste generation, stormwater management and access to open spaces, clean water and fresh, local food—all in just two decades.
At an event that celebrated the release of the plan, District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray called Washington, D.C., a "model" of sustainability for cities across the nation and around the world.
"Things are changing. Times are changing. And we are changing," Gray said.
In recent years, the District has become a leader in planting trees, installing green roofs, boosting public transportation and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Sustainable DC Plan will build on these actions with ambitious goals to clean up local land, water and the Chesapeake Bay. The District will ensure, for instance, that all residents live within a 10-minute walk of parks or natural spaces; that 40 percent of the city is covered with a healthy tree canopy; and that all of the District's waterways—including the long-polluted Anacostia River—are made fishable and swimmable by 2032.
Read more about the Sustainable DC Plan.