Overview of VideoCLEF 2009: New perspectives on speech-based multimedia content enrichment

VideoCLEF 2009 offered three tasks related to enriching video content for improved multimedia access in a multilingual environment. For each task, video data (Dutch-language television, predominantly documentaries) accompanied by speech recognition transcripts were provided. The Subject Classification Task involved automatic tagging of videos with subject theme labels. The best performance was achieved by approaching subject tagging as an information retrieval task and using both speech recognition transcripts and archival metadata. Alternatively, classifiers were trained using either the training data provided or data collected from Wikipedia or via general Web search. The Affect Task involved detecting narrative peaks, defined as points where viewers perceive heightened dramatic tension. The task was carried out on the “Beeldenstorm” collection containing 45 short-form documentaries on the visual arts. The best runs exploited affective vocabulary and audience directed speech. Other approaches included using topic changes, elevated speaking pitch, increased speaking intensity and radical visual changes. The Linking Task, also called “Finding Related Resources Across Languages,” involved linking video to material on the same subject in a different language. Participants were provided with a list of multimedia anchors (short video segments) in the Dutch-language “Beeldenstorm” collection and were expected to return target pages drawn from English-language Wikipedia. The best performing methods used the transcript of the speech spoken during the multimedia anchor to build a query to search an index of the Dutch language Wikipedia. The Dutch Wikipedia pages returned were used to identify related English pages. Participants also experimented with pseudo-relevance feedback, query translation and methods that targeted proper names

Validation of separate multi-atlases for auto segmentation of cardiac substructures in CT-scans acquired in deep inspiration breath hold and free breathing

Background and purpose: Developing NTCP-models for cardiac complications after breast cancer (BC) radiotherapy requires cardiac dose-volume parameters for many patients. These can be obtained by using multi-atlas based automatic segmentation (MABAS) of cardiac structures in planning CT scans. We investigated the relevance of separate multi-atlases for deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) and free breathing (FB) CT scans. Materials and methods: BC patients scanned in DIBH (n = 10) and in FB (n = 20) were selected to create separate multi-atlases consisting of expert panel delineations of the whole heart, atria and ventricles. The accuracy of atlas-generated contours was validated with expert delineations in independent datasets (n = 10 for DIBH and FB) and reported as Dice coefficients, contour distances and dose-volume differences in relation to interobserver variability of manual contours. Dependency of MABAS contouring accuracy on breathing technique was assessed by validation of a FB atlas in DIBH patients and vice versa (cross validation). Results: For all structures the FB and DIBH atlases resulted in Dice coefficients with their respective reference contours > 0.8 and average contour distances < 2 mm smaller than slice thickness of (CTs). No significant differences were found for dose-volume parameters in volumes receiving relevant dose levels (WH, LV and RV). Accuracy of the DIBH atlas was at least similar to, and for the ventricles better than, the interobserver variation in manual delineation. Cross-validation between breathing techniques showed a reduced MABAS performance. Conclusion: Multi-atlas accuracy was at least similar to interobserver delineation variation. Separate atlases for scans made in DIBH and FB could benefit atlas performance because accuracy depends on breathing technique

Clinical implementation of a knowledge based planning tool for prostate VMAT

Abstract Background A knowledge based planning tool has been developed and implemented for prostate VMAT radiotherapy plans providing a target average rectum dose value based on previously achievable values for similar rectum/PTV overlap. The purpose of this planning tool is to highlight sub-optimal clinical plans and to improve plan quality and consistency. Methods A historical cohort of 97 VMAT prostate plans was interrogated using a RayStation script and used to develop a local model for predicting optimum average rectum dose based on individual anatomy. A preliminary validation study was performed whereby historical plans identified as “optimal” and “sub-optimal” by the local model were replanned in a blinded study by four experienced planners and compared to the original clinical plan to assess whether any improvement in rectum dose was observed. The predictive model was then incorporated into a RayStation script and used as part of the clinical planning process. Planners were asked to use the script during planning to provide a patient specific prediction for optimum average rectum dose and to optimise the plan accordingly. Results Plans identified as “sub-optimal” in the validation study observed a statistically significant improvement in average rectum dose compared to the clinical plan when replanned whereas plans that were identified as “optimal” observed no improvement when replanned. This provided confidence that the local model can identify plans that were suboptimal in terms of rectal sparing. Clinical implementation of the knowledge based planning tool reduced the population-averaged mean rectum dose by 5.6Gy. There was a small but statistically significant increase in total MU and femoral head dose and a reduction in conformity index. These did not affect the clinical acceptability of the plans and no significant changes to other plan quality metrics were observed. Conclusions The knowledge-based planning tool has enabled substantial reductions in population-averaged mean rectum dose for prostate VMAT patients. This suggests plans are improved when planners receive quantitative feedback on plan quality against historical data

Imaging biomarker roadmap for cancer studies.

Imaging biomarkers (IBs) are integral to the routine management of patients with cancer. IBs used daily in oncology include clinical TNM stage, objective response and left ventricular ejection fraction. Other CT, MRI, PET and ultrasonography biomarkers are used extensively in cancer research and drug development. New IBs need to be established either as useful tools for testing research hypotheses in clinical trials and research studies, or as clinical decision-making tools for use in healthcare, by crossing 'translational gaps' through validation and qualification. Important differences exist between IBs and biospecimen-derived biomarkers and, therefore, the development of IBs requires a tailored 'roadmap'. Recognizing this need, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) assembled experts to review, debate and summarize the challenges of IB validation and qualification. This consensus group has produced 14 key recommendations for accelerating the clinical translation of IBs, which highlight the role of parallel (rather than sequential) tracks of technical (assay) validation, biological/clinical validation and assessment of cost-effectiveness; the need for IB standardization and accreditation systems; the need to continually revisit IB precision; an alternative framework for biological/clinical validation of IBs; and the essential requirements for multicentre studies to qualify IBs for clinical use.Development of this roadmap received support from Cancer Research UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant references A/15267, A/16463, A/16464, A/16465, A/16466 and A/18097), the EORTC Cancer Research Fund, and the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking (grant agreement number 115151), resources of which are composed of financial contribution from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) and European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) companies' in kind contribution

Polyamide 6-polycaprolactone multiblock copolymers : synthesis, characterization, and degradation

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of polyamide 6 (PA 6)-polycaprolactone (PCL) multiblock copolymers. Low molar mass, fully amine end-capped PA 6 was prepared by the addition of a diamine monomer during e-caprolactam polymerization. A low molar mass PCL was selected to be incorporated as the biodegradable block and was fully end-capped with toluene 2,4-diisocyanate. End group analysis and molecular weight characterizations were performed for both end-functionalized polymers by SEC, NMR and titration analysis. Incorporation of PCL into PA 6 was mainly achieved by solution mixing of the two end-functional blocks and, was continued after the removal of the solvent with solid state polymerization (SSP) by gradual heating until about 40 ??C below the melting temperature of the PA 6. Molecular weights started to grow immediately during solution mixing and only increased marginally during the SSP treatment. FTIR and SEC studies confirmed the reaction between the two components. DSC data, in combination with the enhanced molar mass during solution mixing pointed to a blocky microstructure, for which distinct melting and crystallization temperatures were observed for the PCL and the PA 6 blocks. Hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation studies were performed at 25 ??C where the degree of degradation was followed by weight loss analysis, SEM and SEC

Hoe hoger de haze bij diffuus glas, hoe hoger de meerproductie (interview met Jan Janse en Sonny Moerenhout)

Een vroege komkommerteelt onder diffuus glas gaf vanaf het begin een grotere opbrengst dan onder gewoon glas. Jan Janse van Wageningen UR Glastuinbouw durft na de reeks proeven in de afgelopen jaren de conclusie te trekken: hoe hoger de haze, hoe hoger de meerproductie. Dus ook in een vroege teelt

Foliekas reëel alternatief bij koudere teelten: hoge lichtdoorlatendheid, lange levensduur en warmte-absorptie

Foliekassen kampen met een imagoprobleem. Onderzoekers van Wageningen UR en KEMA denken dat tuinders met koudere teelten er verstandig aan zouden doen zo’n kas te overwegen. Elkellaags polyetheen geeft financiële voordelen ten opzichte van glas bij verschillende gewassen. Dubbellaags PE bespaart 30% energie maar springt er financieel slechter uit. F-Clean heeft veel voordelen, maar is wel duur. Toch is het eindplaatje bij F-Clean financieel positiever dan glas. Het wachten is op nieuwe folies. Die zijn in aantocht. Ze combineren hoge lichtdoorlatendheid, lange levensduur en warmteabsorptie met een gunstige prijs. Een groot voordeel van foliekassen is tevens de lagere investerin

Biologische klok brengt compactheid zonder chemie dichterbij : hoe gaat plant om met zetmeel en suikers in de nacht?

Meer inzicht in hoe de biologische klok van de plant processen aanstuurt, geeft nieuwe mogelijkheden om groei en bloei te sturen. Het brengt compact houden van pot- en perkplanten met teeltmaatregelen dichterbij. Onderdeel hiervan is een beter begrip van hoe de plant omgaat met zetmeel en suikers in de nacht. Het interessante onderzoek op dit terrein krijgt financiële en praktische ondersteuning van ongekend veel tuinbouwbedrijven