Solar eclipse was real-life astronomy lesson for millions

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Across the country, the solar eclipse Sunday seemed to kindle an infectious enthusiasm for astronomy.

In New Mexico's Chaco Canyon, Jay Anderson, a Canadian eclipse expert who runs the website Eclipser, marveled at the spectacle. He particularly enjoyed how the eclipse happened on a Sunday. The last "ring of fire" eclipse Anderson attended in the United States, he said, was "characterized by warnings not to watch and descriptions of the dangers of looking at the Sun, despite the fact that we all do it on occasion."

"This one, being on a Sunday when schools could not intervene with their overly protective attitude, got the whole countryside watching, and the general message seems to have been to go out and enjoy the spectacle, with proper eye protection. It's a good message to carry forward, with a major total eclipse coming to the U.S. in five more years," Anderson wrote to The Times.

PHOTO GALLERY: ECLIPSE VIEWS AROUND THE WORLD

Anderson said where he was located, skies were completely clear too clear, even, because he likes "a little cloud to give the event a bit of drama." There were eclipse veterans and newcomers, and he enjoyed watching the character of light change off the red rocks of the canyon.

"That change in the lighting is very familiar to me (I've seen more than 20 eclipses), and it lends a kind of other-wordly feeling to the environment that seems to be signalling that something is afoot. It's not ominous, but I can imagine that unsophisticated societies, unaware of an eclipse, would be drawn to looking upward because the landscape had adoptedthat strange illumination," Anderson wrote.

"We had fun making crescent suns for the kids by interlacing our fingers to create pinhole images on the ground, and showing them the gradually encroaching Moon. Ipassed out lots of eclipse glasses and filter material for cameras, and the whole mood was one of good company and camaraderie," he wrote. "I had a good time, watched the Sun set behind the hills while still a crescent, introduced a few more people to the magic of celestial geometry, and took a few photos for my memories. A good day."

The partial solar eclipse reached its peak in Los Angeles at 6:38 p.m., and visitors at the Griffith Observatory counted down the seconds at the top of their lungs before letting out a wail of excitement.

"The light is dimmer. The air is cooler," a woman said over a loudspeaker. "Nature gets a little strange during an eclipse."

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Solar eclipse was real-life astronomy lesson for millions

Rare ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse dims skies over North America

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Reuters/Kanarraville, Utah

The sun and moon aligned over the Earth in a rare astronomical event yesterday - an annular eclipse that dimmed the skies over parts of Asia and North America, briefly turning the sun into a blazing ring of fire. As the eclipse reached its peak, a crowd of several thousand viewers gathered in a Utah field took a collective gasp and erupted into applause, cheers and even some howling. The wonder of it, the sheer coincidence that this can happen, that totally amazes me, said Brent Sorensen, a physics professor at Southern Utah University, who brought a half-dozen telescopes to the rural town of Kanarraville for the public to peek through. It never ceases to amaze me. Eclipses of some type occur almost every year, but stargazers have not seen an annular - shaped like a ring -eclipse on US soil since 1994, and the next one is not to occur until 2023. That is because the phenomenon requires a particular set of orbital dynamics, Nasa Space Scientist Jeffrey Newmark said. An annular eclipse occurs when the moons orbit is at its furthest point from the Earth and closer to the much larger sun. That juxtaposition allows the moon to block more than 90% of the suns rays when the two orbs slide into alignment. Its like moving your fist in front of your eyes, Newmark said. You can block out the view of a whole mountain. Its the same kind of effect. The eclipse was first visible over southern Asia and then moved across the Pacific. Traveling on a diagonal path, it later crossed parts of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico before disappearing in Texas with the sunset. Day did not turn into night. But light faded as the moon slid in front of the sun, much like turning down a dimmer switch, and then slowly returned as the moon moved away. A view of the so-called ring of fire spectacle at the eclipses peak, however, lasted about four minutes, and even then was only visible to viewers positioned along the centerline of the eclipses path. In Utah, the sweet spot for viewing the full eclipse was Kanarraville, a community of just 355 residents about 375km south of Salt Lake City. Accessed by an old two-lane highway, the town has just two businesses - a campground and a nursery - plus a church, town hall and tiny post office. Patrick Wiggins, who is part of the Nasa ambassador outreach programme, was overcome with emotion once the moon slipped into place. Wiggins had previously seen five total solar eclipses, but had never before witnessed an annular eclipse. He wasnt disappointed. Ive been planning this since the 1980s, he said, his voice breaking. Youre seeing the solar system in motion. Robin Kopaunik, 38, of Sandy, Utah, brought four of her children, ages 6 to 16, to see the eclipse in Kanarraville. Its so amazing. I think for them its a chance of a lifetime, said Kopaunik, who home-schools her kids. The best way to learn is to come out and see it. A T-shirt salesman said his customers hailed from as far away as Brazil and Japan. Domestically, Edward and Jean Eadurka drove out from Virginia for the eclipse, after Eds last attempt to see an annular eclipse, in 1994, was thwarted by cloud cover. Jean said her 66-year-old husband was so enamored with the skies that he built himself a personal observatory - a backyard shed with a retractable roof - and often spends the whole night looking through his telescope. Im an astronomy geek, I guess, said the retired court administrator, who once took an Atlantic Ocean cruise to see a solar eclipse. Ive been doing this so long its compulsive. Area officials said thousands more astro-tourists had been expected to attend so-called star parties at other locations across the region, including Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Cedar Breaks National Monument. Despite the infrequent nature of an annular eclipse, it was part of the normal astronomical cycle, said Inese Ivans, an assistant professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Utah. Still, she said it was bound to pique curiosities and inspire awe. It reminds us that the Earth is spinning. That everything is constantly in motion, Ivans said. This sort of gives you a chance to step out and remember Oh yeah there (is) a lot of stuff out there that we dont know anything about.

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Rare ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse dims skies over North America

Aerial talk: Cameron dreams his ideas

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Cameron shares his creative process

A driven perfectionist with vision and a short fuse for mediocrity, James Cameron continues to set the standard in using technology creatively to tell his stories in film.

It was on the BIO Channel that I discovered Visionaries Inside the Creative Mind the other day, which featured the multiple Oscar-winning director responsible for a handful of the worlds highest grossing films.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, Every artist was first an amateur and no great man ever complains of want of opportunities, the Canadian-born Cameron initially had humble beginnings.

When he relocated to California in the 1970s, he studied physics at Fullerton Junior College while working as a machinist and a truck driver. Watching Star Wars in 1977 left an indelible impact and made him want to become a filmmaker.

He later raised money from local dentists to produce a 35mm short film, which got him a job with the famed low budget B-movie filmmaker Roger Corman, where he started off as a production designer, matte artist and visual effects DP.

The year he got his big break was 1984, with The Terminator, which also launched the career of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The well-received sci-fi action film about a killer cyborg was where Cameron utilised his guerrilla filmmaking techniques and creative special effects, making use of whatever was around and keeping to a shoestring budget.

He then moved on to produce bigger budget films like Aliens in 1986.

A technical genius, Cameron also founded the famous visual effects production and technology company, Digital Domain, and continues to push the envelope for technology in filmmaking.

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Aerial talk: Cameron dreams his ideas

Universal joint: UNCA teams with Astronomy Club to build new observatory

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By Susan Andrew on 05/22/2012 05:38 AM

But thats about to change. Last month, UNCA announced a plan to partner with the Astronomy Club of Asheville to build a small observatory on the south-facing hillside at the north end of campus, at the end of Nut Hill Road.

Were so excited about working together, says Judy Beck, a faculty member in UNCAs Department of Physics and the science-licensure coordinator for the universitys Department of Education. Its really going to be a wonderful university-community partnership.

The observatory will be a step up for local astro-enthusiasts, who until now have been operating in backyards and parking lots across town, their pursuit of cosmic happenings hampered by light pollution from a variety of commercial and domestic sources.

The 1,300-square-foot facility will provide a shared home for equipment and programs belonging to both the university and the Astronomy Club, and frequent public events are anticipated.

Our first step is to sit down with curriculum specialists and science teachers to collaborate and design programs that will be most effective for teachers and their students, she says, adding that some programs will be geared to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for elementary through high school. Their input is critical.

An observatory was originally planned by the Astronomy Club as part of a proposed science center at a new Health Adventure, once slated for a vacant property along Broadway near the university. But when the Health Adventure plans fell through in 2011, the group took its proposal to the university, says club president Bernie Arghiere (pictured here).

This observatory will bring the solar system and the universe a whole lot closer to Asheville and Buncombe residents, Arghiere tells Xpress. There are many wonderful astronomical images on the Internet, but nothing takes the place of observing a planet or other celestial object directly in a telescope eyepiece. Thats the power of an observatory.

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Universal joint: UNCA teams with Astronomy Club to build new observatory

Tricorder Update — Social Medicine is the Next Big Thing After Social Media

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You want a vision for the future of health care?  Don?t look to policymakers and regulators.  Look to innovators and innovations.   Look to San Diego?s wireless mesas and San Francisco?s silicon valleys.  Look at Scanadu?s protean medical Tricorder.  They get it, and it?s awesome.  Watch their one-and-a-half-minute video before reading on.

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Tricorder Update -- Social Medicine is the Next Big Thing After Social Media

Bluesky Launches Drones for Aerial Surveying

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COALVILLE, England, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Aerial survey company Bluesky has launched a fast response aerial survey service using state of the art unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) or drones. The technology, originally developed by the military, includes Artificial Intelligence (AI) guided autopilot, high resolution integrated camera and environmentally friendly rechargeable propulsion system. Autonomous take-off and landing ensures the system is easy to use and with a wingspan of less than a metre it can be easily transported without the need for complex assembly.

"Using UAV's we can respond quickly to demands to collect site specific images and data in a very cost effective way," commented James Eddy, Technical Director at Leicestershire based Bluesky. "The integrated camera captures high resolution photogrammetric images that can be used to create map accurate aerial survey data including height models. The system is compact and lightweight making it easy to store and transport and can be launched by hand from virtually any location. Flight planning software and an Artificial Intelligence guided autopilot make it easy to control and the system will gently and safely return to the ground with a single touch of a button."

Potential applications of Bluesky's UAV solution include open cast mines or quarries or even landfill sites where large volumes of material are extracted or moved on a regular basis. The geographically accurate imagery would provide a record of activity at a given point in time and the highly detailed height models could be used to measure stockpiles, cut and fill volumes and for facilities management and safety monitoring.

Large scale construction sites can also be surveyed, at regular intervals or predetermined points in time, providing data for project management, reporting and funding. The height data can be used for line of site calculations to ensure compliance with planning applications or cut and fill calculations for project invoicing and for the creation of realistic 3D images for marketing or KPI reporting.

With an option of additional sensors mounted on the UAV Bluesky is also exploring agricultural applications monitoring crop growth or irrigation and identifying locations for higher value crops or high yield areas. Additional applications include golf courses where the map accurate images and height models could be used to create yardage books, feed digital caddy systems and used to develop stroke manager solutions.

Website: http://www.bluesky-world.com

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Bluesky Launches Drones for Aerial Surveying

MASA Showcases Latest Version of MASA SWORD for Homeland Security Markets

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SWORD 5.0 features enhanced safety-related capabilities

14:37 GMT, May 21, 2012 NORFOLK, VA. | At the National UASI Homeland Security Conference, booth #310, MASA Group, a leading developer of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Modeling & Simulation (M&S) software for the defense, homeland security, emergency management, serious games and games-related markets, is unveiling version 5.0 of MASA SWORD, the company's state-of-the-art modeling and simulation solution. MASA will demonstrate SWORD and its capability to help Homeland Security and Public Safety professionals improve their training efficiency and effectiveness, while reducing costs.

MASA will also showcase PIVTS (Plans Independently Verified Through Simulation), a recently-launched service offering designed to help emergency management professionals easily assess their disaster preparedness plans, using SWORD technology. PIVTS can help emergency management professionals determine the key elements of their plan and develop a timeline for the simulation, thereby increasing their decision-making level of confidence.

"For the last 10 years, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Departments across the country have spent millions of dollars preparing, exercising and updating plans to help them better respond to emergency situations. With on-going reductions in funding, MASA provides public safety managers with new cost-effective ways to sustain their programs, while ensuring that their emergency and crisis preparedness plans and personnel are capable of responding to an ever-widening array of potential scenarios, explains Juan-Pablo Torres, MASAs President and CEO.

At MASA, we believe that reduced resources should not mean diminished preparedness. The latest version of SWORD includes a host a new features with powerful, cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology designed to public safety professionals increase their departments' preparedness, while keeping costs affordable. Moreover, MASA now has certified AGWA grant writers on staff to help potential users apply for Federal funding," adds John D. Pietrzak, Vice President, MASA Group, Inc.

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MASA Showcases Latest Version of MASA SWORD for Homeland Security Markets

Moving Beyond the Marketing Funnel: Rocket Fuel Announce Free Webinar Featuring an Independent Research Firm

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REDWOOD SHORES, CA--(Marketwire -05/21/12)- Rocket Fuel, the leading provider of artificial-intelligence advertising solutions for digital marketers, today announced a free webinar to be held on Wednesday, May 30th at 11 am PT. Marketers can sign up for the webinar at http://rocketfuel.com/newsroom/event/webinar-cpg-in-the-digital-age-ditch-the-funnel-embrace-the-lifecycle.

Key Facts:

Resources:

About Rocket Fuel:Rocket Fuel is the leading provider of artificial-intelligence advertising solutions that transform digital media campaigns into self-optimizing engines that learn and adapt in real-time, and deliver outstanding results from awareness to sales. Recently awarded #22 in Forbes Most Promising Companies in America list, over 400 of the world's most successful marketers trust Rocket Fuel to power their advertising across display, video, mobile, and social media. Founded by online advertising veterans and rocket scientists from NASA, DoubleClick, IBM, and Salesforce.com, Rocket Fuel is based in Redwood Shores, California, and has offices in eleven cities worldwide including New York, London, and Toronto.

2012 Rocket Fuel Inc. All rights reserved. Rocket Fuel Inc. is a registered trademark of Rocket Fuel Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Moving Beyond the Marketing Funnel: Rocket Fuel Announce Free Webinar Featuring an Independent Research Firm

Makino to Highlight New Aerospace Manufacturing Solutions at 2012 Farnborough International …

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Engineers to discuss latest research and process solutions

Mason, OH - Makino plans to share its latest machining and process solutions for aerospace manufacturing July 9-15 at the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, England. Makino will host discussions at its chalet, C5, regarding new aerospace manufacturing technologies specifically designed for mid-sized titanium components, large aluminum structural parts, EDM-hole drilling, and 5-axis milling and grinding.

"The aerospace manufacturing industry continues to grow rapidly, and the International Farnborough Airshow is the perfect opportunity for manufacturers to learn about the latest high-performance manufacturing technologies," says Mark Rentschler, Makino marketing manager. "Makino's chalet visitors will have the opportunity to meet with our senior management, designers and application engineers to discuss their aerospace manufacturing challenges and how Makino can help them meet increasingly stringent requirements for quality and lead times."

Makino will showcase the following new aerospace manufacturing solutions at the show: o T2 5-axis horizontal machining center with ADVANTiGE(TM) for large titanium aerospace parts, such as edge frames, pylons and bulkheads o G7 multifunctional horizontal machining center for grinding, drilling, boring and milling in one machine platform o A8, A12 and A20 5-axis horizontal machining centers for large aluminum structural part production o a61nx-5E 5-axis horizontal machining center for small, multidimensional aluminum and titanium components o D300 5-axis vertical machining center for small engine component manufacturing o And a new sinker EDM for hole drilling of cooling holes

The Makino ADVANTiGE Makino's award-winning ADVANTiGE titanium machining technologies offer dramatic reductions in cost and lead-times for titanium aerospace manufacturing, enabling four times the productivity and tool life of conventional technologies. This titanium process solution is composed of several key machining technologies including a high-power, high-torque tilting spindle, Collision Safe Guard and Autonomic Spindle Technologies, high-pressure, high-flow coolant system, vibration damping system and a rigid machine construction.

ADVANTiGE technologies have been introduced as part of Makino's T-series 5-axis horizontal machining centers, including the T2 and T4. Built specifically for large titanium aerospace parts, such as edge frames, pylons and bulkheads, the T-series provides the rigidity, dynamic stiffness, vibration damping and agility necessary for more productive titanium machining and longer tool life.

Aluminum in Aerospace Makino's purpose-built family of large 5-axis horizontal machining centers for aluminum monolithic aerospace part production expands with the new A8, A12 and A20. Building upon the design of Makino's widely successful MAG series machines, this new line of horizontal machining centers incorporates Makino's latest features and technologies, including Volumetric Accuracy Compensation and a high-power, high-speed spindle.

The A8, A12 and A20 are built to accommodate large aerospace structural parts, increase machining accuracy and reduce cycle times for lower costs and higher productivity. With top spindle speeds of 33,000 rpm, these machines are setting new records in aluminum metal-removal rates, allowing faster part delivery and bottom-line growth.

Grinding, Drilling, Boring and Milling in One Machine Makino's chalet will highlight the G5 and new G7 multifunctional 5-axis horizontal machining centers, capable of grinding, drilling, boring and milling all in one platform for reduced capital equipment purchasing and elimination of out-of-cut time. The G5 helps eliminate setups, work in process and stack-up errors due to multiple setups.

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Makino to Highlight New Aerospace Manufacturing Solutions at 2012 Farnborough International ...

Airbus, EADS EFW, ST Aerospace Finalize A330P2F Conversion Program Agreement

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Wed, May 23, 2012

Airbus, ST Aerospace and EADS EFW have finalized the agreement to establish the collaboration for the launch of the A330 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversion program. This follows the MoU announced at the Singapore Airshow in February this year setting out the projects foundation and granting Authorisation To Offer for the A330P2F.

ST Aerospace lead the A330P2F engineering development work in collaboration with Airbus and EADS EFW, while EADS EFW will lead the industrial phase and undertake marketing and sales activities, supported by Airbus. Most of the conversions will take place at EADS EFW facilities in Dresden, Germany, with the potential for additional capacity at ST Aerospace. The strong demand from airlines for a program to convert used A330s from passenger configuration into an attractive freighter is clear, says Tom Williams, EVP of programs at Airbus. Together with ST Aerospace and our sister company EADS EFW we have the perfect partnership to bring efficiency, reliability and profitability to our operators. The A330P2F program includes two versions the A330-200P2F and the larger A330-300P2F. Of the two models, the larger A330-300P2F will be particularly suitable for integrators and express carriers thanks to its high volumetric payload capability with lower-density cargo. Meanwhile, the A330-200P2F will be optimised for higher-density freight and longer range performance. Entry-into-service of the first A330P2F is targeted for 2016. As well as complementing the factory-built A330-200F in service today, the A330P2F freighter conversion program will also enhance and sustain A330 Family residual values by extending the economic lives of A330 airframes. Approximately 2,700 freighters will be required over the next 20 years, and around half of these will be in the mid-sized freighter segment, including 900 conversions. Addressing this requirement, both the A330-200P2F and the A330-300P2F facilitate the change to environmentally-friendly, new-technology converted freighters, while recognising the operators focus on capital cost. (Pictured: A330 Freighter file photo)

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Airbus, EADS EFW, ST Aerospace Finalize A330P2F Conversion Program Agreement

Military & Aerospace Electronics News and Event Guide 1.7.9

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Military & Aerospace Electronics, updated several times each day, brings to your iPhone the latest news, business developments and analysis, new products, and in-depth features of crucial importance to the aerospace and defense electronics and electro-optics industries. The content from Military & Aerospace Electronics brings you breaking news, business analysis, staff-written blogs, video features, and interactive reader comments -- in essence, all the information that aerospace and defense electronics engineers, engineering managers, program managers, and executive managers need most, every day and every hour, to keep ahead of their competition. Military & Aerospace Electronics content covers unmanned vehicles, navigation and guidance, avionics, missiles, satellites and telemetry, fire-control systems, sensors, command & control systems, communications technology, electronic and information warfare, reconnaissance and intelligence, simulation and training, network-centric warfare, military avionics, shipboard electronics and computers, vehicular electronics (vetronics), ruggedized and high-reliability electronics, electro optics and optoelectronics, homeland security technology, biometrics, and nanotechnology. Technologies covered included board products, embedded computing, integrated circuits, rugged computers, software, design and development tools, test and measurement equipment, power electronics, and more. Military & Aerospace Electronics covers the most important industry trade shows, interviews with industry leading lights, the latest new products relevant to aerospace and defense systems designers, blog commentary in written and video format on the latest industry developments. Content is deep, relevant, and on point to help you get the information you need, fast, and then get back to work.

Download for free now

ZDNet provides a centralised resource where you are able to download the latest and most popular software. We provide information on prices and specifications on this software however, all software is developed and managed by 3rd parties. If you download software from our downloads section, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is compatible with your system. Any issues when downloading, whether technical or billing related, is not the responsibility of ZDNet. If you have any issues in this regard, please contact the 3rd party directly.

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Military & Aerospace Electronics News and Event Guide 1.7.9

FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. and L-3 Aviation Recorders Sign Agreement to Provide SatCom Solutions for Major OEM

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CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire -05/22/12)- FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (FLY.V) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") has signed an agreement with L-3 Aviation Recorders ("L-3 AR") to sell, certify, produce and support FLYHT's real-time data communications and SatCom solution to L-3 AR customers. FLYHT and L-3 AR will provide FLYHT's Automated Flight Information Reporting System ("AFIRS") 228S to L-3 AR customers for installation on new aircraft. This solution offers customers the ability to provide voice and data communications anywhere in the world through the Iridium network. The AFIRS 228S will be provided under FLYHT's global Value Added Reseller agreement with Iridium.

These solutions are currently marketed under the FLYHT brand in conjunction with L-3's industry-leading line of Flight Data Recorders ("FDRs"), commonly referred to as "black boxes" on aircraft.

"We are delighted that our effort in teaming with the world leader in data recording is bearing fruit," remarked Bill Tempany, President and CEO of FLYHT. "We're proud that the industry has recognized L-3 and FLYHT for our technologies and cutting-edge solutions for seamless information delivery - from air vehicle to end user. As a team, we will offer end users and original equipment manufacturers one-stop shopping for their data recording and information delivery requirements."

"L-3 is extremely pleased to offer to its extensive worldwide airline and OEM customer base a solution for this emerging requirement with a strong partner like FLYHT," said Mike Smith, President of L-3 Aviation Recorders. "In conjunction with an on-board L-3 flight recorder, FLYHT has already demonstrated FDR data and aircraft position streaming on in-service aircraft. Additional functionality such as ACARS and data loading for EFB and other systems using Iridium communications services makes this a very practical solution for all customers."

About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

FLYHT provides proprietary technological products and services designed to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in the airline industry. The Company has patented and commercialized three products and associated services currently marketed to airlines, manufacturers and maintenance organizations around the world. Its premier technology, AFIRS UpTime, allows airlines to monitor and manage aircraft operations anywhere, anytime, in real-time. If an aircraft encounters an emergency, FLYHT's triggered data streaming mode, FLYHTStream, automatically streams vital data, normally secured in the black box, to designated sites on the ground in real-time. The Company has been publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange since 2003 and recently changed its trading symbol from AMA to FLY. Shareholders approved a Company name change from AeroMechanical Services Ltd. to FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. in May 2012.

AFIRS, UpTime, FLYHT, FLYHTStream and aeroQ are trademarks of FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

About L-3 Aviation Recorders

A subsidiary of New York City based L-3 Communications; L-3 Aviation Recorders is the leading supplier of transportation industry solid-state voice and data recorders, specializing in accident-survivable recording devices for the aerospace and maritime industries.

L-3 AR is part of the L-3 Aviation Products (AP) Sector. L-3 AP manufactures a diverse line of safety-enhancing products and avionics equipment that sets the standard for next-generation requirements, including configurable voice and data recorders, collision avoidance systems, navigation products, display systems and processors. Our aviation products are found on tens of thousands of military and commercial aircraft worldwide. L-3 AP is made up of six divisions including ACSS, Aviation Recorders, Avionics Systems, Display Systems, Electrodynamics, Inc. and Electronic System Services. To learn more about L-3, please visit the company's website at http://www.L-3com.com.

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FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. and L-3 Aviation Recorders Sign Agreement to Provide SatCom Solutions for Major OEM

AGC Aerospace & Defense Appoints New CFO to Composites Group

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OKLAHOMA CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

AGC Composites Group, a part of AGC Aerospace & Defense, announced the appointment of Kevin Holovach as Chief Financial Officer to oversee financial activities for the AGC Composites Group.

Al Haase, CEO of the AGC Composites Group, said, As our companies continue to grow, and with a marked increase in M&A activities both domestic and worldwide for the Composites Group, we are pleased to have a person with Kevins background join our team.

Mr. Holovach has over 25 years of financial experience from a broad base of distribution, manufacturing, and services. He has been responsible for US and foreign subsidiaries; domestic and foreign publicly owned, private, and private equity owned companies.

Mr. Holovach is a certified public accountant, and earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from University Center at Tulsa.

The AGC Composites Group, part of the AGC Aerospace & Defense portfolio, is composed of Unitech Composites, Integrated Composites and Hill AeroSystems and leverages the strength of its design, engineering, development, and manufacturing capabilities from the separate companies working as part of one group. The AGC Composites Group provides innovative design services, quick turnaround tooling, as well as the ability to efficiently manufacture both low volume as well as high volume production at competitive rates.

AGC Aerospace & Defense, the unifying brand of private equity group Acorn Growth Companies, is a global supplier of technologies, systems and services that support key commercial and military programs. Capabilities within the AGC Aerospace & Defense portfolio range from financing, engineering, and integration services to manufacturing, logistics, and aircraft modifications. AGC Aerospace & Defense is organized into four operating groups: Composites, Finance, Integrated Defense, and Services.

For additional information about AGC Aerospace & Defense, please visit: http://www.agcaerospace.com.

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AGC Aerospace & Defense Appoints New CFO to Composites Group

Omega-3 fats from fish oil and supplements prevent and slow arthritis progression

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Humans have been consuming omega-3 fats from natural fish, nut and seed sources for countless generations. Our core genetic structure depends on a regular supply of the long chain omega-3 fats EPA and DHA to form cell wall structures and perform millions of metabolic functions that we normally associate with vibrant health. Imbalance of omega-3 to omega-6 fats cause a surge in inflammatory cytokines that can lead to the painful and debilitating condition known as osteoarthritis. New research published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage has shown for the first time that omega-3 fats supplied by fish oil could "substantially and significantly" reduce the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis as we age. Read more…

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Aperio raises $5.5 million

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Story courtesy of a North San Diego newspaper (by BRADLEY J. FIKES bfikes@nctimes.com)

Aperio raises $5.5M

    5/17/12 VISTA (CA) -  Aperio Technologies Inc. has raised $5.5 million in debt and security options, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Aperio's digital pathology products convert patient tissue samples on standard glass slides into digital slides that can be shared over the Internet for expert analysis, and stored for later re-examination at any time. The company provides a similar service to life science researchers.

    The digital slides show extremely fine detail; they can each take up gigabytes of storage space.

    The company's products include rapid, high-resolution sample scanners, a hosting service to store the digital slides, and software to help read slides on a computer monitor.

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    The 2012 ASCP Annual Meeting Call for Abstracts deadline is extended to May 30, 2012!

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    Submit your Abstract

    The 2012 Call for Abstracts deadline is extended to May 30, 2012!

    Join us in Boston at the 2012 ASCP Annual Meeting and present your abstract to showcase your achievements …

    • Three abstract categories –
      • Scientific Abstract
      • Lab Practice Abstract
      • NEW! Educational Practice Abstract
    • Best poster competition categories, including "Best Poster by a Resident," "Best Poster Submitted from Outside the U.S.," Best Lab Practice Poster," "Best Scientific Poster," and "Best Educational Practice Poster."
    • More categories for Abstract submissions – 19 in all, from autopsy to public health policy and health care reform.
    • Electronic posters (ePosters) on display at the ASCP website throughout the meeting.
    • Learn more...

    Remember to submit your abstract by May 30, 2012!

    Login for details and instructionsSubmit your Abstract

     Submit your Abstract

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    UPMC Digital Pathology Consult Portal Among Top 5 Medical Imaging IT Projects of 2012

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    Congratulations to Gonzalo Romero Lauro and his colleagues at UPMC for the Digital Pathology Consultation Portal.

    PRWeb - MAY 14, 2012—One project soars over the EMR seeking relevant patient information. Another crawls through PACS to match studies with specific priors and then perform complex algorithms. Others monitor patient CT radiation dose, assist in study protocoling, and provide a portal for partners in China to access contemporaneous pathology interpretations.

    All five projects were selected as the winners of the Top 5 Medical Imaging IT Projects of 2012 in an annual juried competition, co-sponsored by the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine (SIIM) and Radiology Business Journal (RBJ).

    Judged on a matrix of five criteria by a SIIM panel of six judges, the architects of the five winning projects will present their work and discuss the innovation process at the annual SIIM meeting in Orlando, Florida, in a Hot Topic Session at 3:45 PM on June 7. The winning entries will also be featured in the June/July issue of RBJ.

    The winners are (in alphabetical order): Tessa Cook, MD, PhD, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, for the RADIANCE Toolkit for Customizable CT Dose Monitoring; Nathan Cross, MD, MS, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, for the RAPTOR system, decision support for contrast risk-assessment and protocol assignment; Bradley J. Erickson, MD, PhD, FSIIM, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota, for a DICOM-enabled workflow engine; Richard L. Kennedy, MSc, CIIP, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group, Sacramento, California, for Integration of Visible Light Imaging with Enterprise PACS and EMR; and Gonzalo Romero Lauro, MBA, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, for The Digital Pathology Consultation Portal.

    “This competition recognizes innovation, and this year’s entries were exemplary in their ability to solve problems and meet unmet needs,” says Cheryl Proval, editor of RBJ and VP, publishing, imagingBiz, Tustin, California.

    “The contest is a part of an ongoing SIIM strategy to recognize and encourage innovators,” according to Anna Marie Mason, executive director of SIIM. “With the generous support of Bayer, the winners will all receive scholarships to attend SIIM 2012 and present their work.”

    “In health care, the right technological advancements have the potential to shorten the time between testing, diagnosis, and treatment, and this year’s entries show great promise,” says Anthony Cinalli, vice president of the informatics business at Bayer HealthCare Radiology & Interventional, which provided an educational grant to underwrite the competition.  “At Bayer HealthCare, we were pleased to be involved with this important project.” 
     
    About imagingBiz

    Founded by longtime industry veteran Curtis Kauffman-Pickelle, imagingBiz includes a portfolio of specialized publications delivering business intelligence to hospitals, imaging centers, and radiology practices.

    About SIIM

    The Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine is a health care professional organization that seeks to spearhead research, education, and discovery of innovative solutions, new technologies, and applications to improve the delivery of medical imaging services and the quality and safety of patient care. The 2012 SIIM Annual Meeting (http://www.siim2012.org) takes place June 7-10 at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

    Source: PRWeb


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    New Articles on Efficacy of Whole Slide Images/Virtual Microscopy

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    Couple of recent new articles on use of whole slide images/virtual microscopy for use in clinical, education and research.  Increasingly, it is becoming clearer and clearer, that pathologists of today and tomorrow will have to train their analog eyes as well as their digital ones to get the full picture of disease without impairments of travel, time, place and most important, quality.

      Observer agreement comparing the use of virtual slides with glass slides in the pathology review component of the POSH breast cancer cohort study

      Abstract 

      Aims (1) To compare the use of scanned virtual slide images (virtual microscopy) with glass slides (conventional microscopy) in the assessment of morphological characteristics of breast cancers within the setting of the Prospective study of Outcomes in Sporadic versus Hereditary breast cancer (POSH), involving a cohort of women under 40 years of age, presenting with breast cancer. (2) To assess the acceptability to histopathologists of the use of virtual slide images.

      Methods 13 histopathologists from the UK and Australia participated in the POSH pathology review. The observers were asked to assess multiple morphological features such as tumour grade and type. Comparisons were made for a single observer using both virtual images and glass slides. Intra- and inter-observer variability was calculated using the ? statistic and a comparison was made between the use of each image modality.

      Results Diagnostic performance with virtual slides was comparable to conventional microscopic assessment, with the measurement of agreement best for vascular invasion, necrosis and the presence of a central scar (?=0.37–0.78), and poor for more subjective parameters such as pleomorphism, stroma, the nature of the tumour border and the degree of lymphocytic infiltrate (?=0.1).

      Conclusion Virtual slides represent an acceptable methodology for central review of breast cancer histopathology and can circumvent the need for either travel to view material, or the potential problems of sending it by post.

      J Clin Pathol 2012;65:403-408 doi:10.1136/jclinpath-2011-200369

      Correspondence to: Dr Emily Clare Shaw, Department of Cellular Pathology, Mail point 2, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; ecshaw@doctors.org.uk

      ______________________________________________________________________________________

      Whole slide imaging (WSI) has been used in conjunction with virtual microscopy (VM) for training or proficiency testing purposes, multicentre research, remote frozen section diagnosis and to seek specialist second opinion in a number of organ systems. The feasibility of using WSI/VM for routine surgical pathology reporting has also been explored. In this review, we discuss the utility and limitations of WSI/VM technology in the histological assessment of specimens from the prostate. Features of WSI/VM that are particularly well suited to assessment of prostate pathology include the ability to examine images at different magnifications as well as to view histology and immunohistochemistry side-by-side on the screen. Use of WSI/VM would also solve the difficulty in obtaining multiple identical copies of small lesions in prostate biopsies for teaching and proficiency testing. It would also permit annotation of the virtual slides, and has been used in a study of i nter-observer variation of Gleason grading to facilitate precise identification of the foci on which grading decisions had been based. However, the large number of sections examined from each set of prostate biopsies would greatly increase time required for scanning as well as the size of the digital file, and would also be an issue if digital archiving of prostate biopsies is contemplated. Z-scanning of glass slides, a process that increases scanning time and file size would be required to permit focusing a virtual slide up and down to assess subtle nuclear features such as nucleolar prominence. The common use of large blocks to process prostatectomy specimens would also be an issue, as few currently available scanners can scan such blocks. A major component of proficiency testing of prostate biopsy assessment involves screening of the cores to detect small atypical foci. However, screening virtual slides of wavy fragmented prostate cores using a computer mouse aided by an overview image is very different from screening glass slides using a microscope stage. Hence, it may be more appropriate in this setting to mark the lesional area and focus only on the interpretation component of competency testing. Other issues limiting the use of digital pathology in prostate pathology include the cost of high quality slide scanners for WSI and high resolution monitors for VM as well as the requirement for fast Internet connection as even a subtle delay in presentation of images on the screen may be very disturbing for a pathologist used to the rapid viewing of glass slides under a microscope. However, these problems are likely to be overcome by technological advances in the future. © 2012 The Authors APMIS © 2012 APMIS.

      APMIS 2012(Apr); 120(4): 298-304.
      Utility of whole slide imaging and virtual microscopy in prostate pathology.
      Camparo P, Egevad L, Algaba F, Berney DM, Boccon-Gibod L, Compérat E, Evans AJ, Grobholz R, Kristiansen G, Langner C, Lopez-Beltran A, Montironi R, Oliveira P, Vainer B, Varma M  
      Cabinet de Pathologie Amiens, France.
      DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2011.02872.x
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      ___________________________________________________________________________

      Traditionally, education and training in pathology has been delivered using textbooks, glass slides and conventional microscopy. Over the last two decades, the number of web-based pathology resources has expanded dramatically with centralized pathological resources being delivered to many students simultaneously. Recently, whole slide imaging technology allows glass slides to be scanned and viewed on a computer screen via dedicated software. This technology is referred to as virtual microscopy and has created enormous opportunities in pathological training and education. Students are able to learn key histopathological skills, e.g. to identify areas of diagnostic relevance from an entire slide, via a web-based computer environment. Students no longer need to be in the same room as the slides. New human-computer interfaces are also being developed using more natural touch technology to enhance the manipulation of digitized slides. Several major initiatives are also underway introducing online competency and diagnostic decision analysis using virtual microscopy and have important future roles in accreditation and recertification. Finally, researchers are investigating how pathological decision-making is achieved using virtual microscopy and modern eye-tracking devices. Virtual microscopy and digital pathology will continue to improve how pathology training and education is delivered. © 2012 The Authors APMIS © 2012 APMIS.

      APMIS 2012(Apr); 120(4): 305-15.
      Virtual microscopy and digital pathology in training and education.
      Hamilton PW, Wang Y, McCullough SJ  
      Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, UK. p.hamilton@qub.ac.uk
      DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2011.02869.x
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      The New Cancer Genetics Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine

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      CgllogoThe new Cancer Genetics Laboratory at Baylor College of Medicine provides state-of-the-art clinical genetic testing in the area of cancer, both identifying cancer genes and biological markers of disease classification, prognosis and drug response.

      The new laboratory is a joint project of the College's Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Medicine – Division of Hematology/Oncology, Pediatrics – Division of Hematology/Oncology, Pathology and Immunology, the NCI-designated Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at BCM, the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center, the Texas Children's Cancer Center and Texas Children's Hospital Pathology Laboratory.

      Combined strengths

      The Cancer Genetics Laboratory combines the strengths of all of its component departments and centers at BCM, making it possible to provide a new test as soon as possible. It is directed by Dr. Marilyn Li, professor of molecular and human genetics at BCM, and Dr. Federico Monzon, associate professor of pathology and immunology at BCM. Dr. Condie Carmack is general manager of the laboratory.

      Next-generation sequencing

      Li said, "This is a great opportunity to take the latest developments and technologies and apply them to cancer. Cancer is a very complex disorder, and it stands to reason that we should be applying cutting edge technologies. Baylor College of Medicine is known for its early use of complex molecular technologies, like CGH (comparative genomic hybridization) and SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) microarrays. The Cancer Genetics Laboratory has already designed and now offers customized microarrays for cancer testing."

      "Next-generation sequencing of mutations associated with specific cellular pathways in cancer is possible now," said Li. "We are offering a next-gen panel to test for hundreds of mutations in one test as well as offering individual cancer mutation testing."

      "Combining expertise from the Cancer Genetics Laboratory partners will facilitate developing clinical tests with novel technologies. This environment will allow us to move faster from bench to bedside with the ultimate goal of improving care for patients with cancer," said Monzon. "The Cancer Genetics Laboratory provides both established and novel diagnostic, prognostic and predictive tools that can enable truly personalized cancer medicine."

      Technology personalizes care

      "The Cancer Genetics Laboratory has launched clinical genomic testing on cancers from patients to try to identify the driver genes in that tumor that need to be targeted for successful treatment," said Dr. C. Kent Osborne, director of the Duncan Cancer Center and the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at BCM. "This technology is needed for truly personalized care of cancer patients. Tumors are different in different patients and the reason lies in the particular set of gene mutations that caused the cancer in the first place."

      "Each tumor has its own genetic fingerprint of changes in specific genes and the set of mutations in a tumor relates to the cancer's aggressiveness and response to treatment. We can now measure these mutations, which should help clinicians make specific treatment decisions for each patient," said Osborne, who is already planning to make use of the laboratory's services.

      Improving quality of care

      The Cancer Genetics Laboratory now offers more than 140 tests that help identify the type of cancer as well as identify markers that give information about how well a treatment might work or is working. In the future, the Baylor College of Medicine Human Genome Sequencing Center plans to collaborate with the laboratory to provide whole genome or exome (the portion of the genome that codes for proteins) sequencing of tumors.

      The goal of the Cancer Genetics Laboratory is to move the newest research and diagnostic testing into the clinical lab in order to improve the quality of care for patients with cancer. This includes many forms of molecular analysis of the tumor to predict its behavior and to select the most favorable treatment program. The laboratory also provides testing for families that may be at risk for inherited forms of cancer.

       

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