We introduce a novel method to extract the vessels in eye fundus images which is adaptive to lighting variations. In the Logarithmic Image Processing framework, a 3-segment probe detects the vessels by probing the topographic surface of an image from below. A map of contrasts between the probe and the image allows to detect the vessels by a threshold. In a lowly contrasted image, results show that our method better extract the vessels than another state-of the-art method. In a highly contrasted image database (DRIVE) with a reference, ours has an accuracy of 0.9454 which is similar or better than three state-of-the-art methods and below three others. The three best methods have a higher accuracy than a manual segmentation by another expert. Importantly, our method automatically adapts to the lighting conditions of the image acquisition.

The Canadian Hydrogen Observatory and Radio-transient Detector (CHORD) is a next-generation radio telescope, proposed for construction to start immediately. CHORD is a pan-Canadian project, designed to work with and build on the success of the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME). It is an ultra-wideband, "large-N, small-D" telescope, consisting of a central array of 512x6-m dishes, supported by a pair of distant outrigger stations, each equipped with CHIME-like cylinders and a 64-dish array. CHORD will measure the distribution of matter over a huge swath of the Universe, detect and localize tens of thousands of Fast RadioBursts (FRBs), and undertake cutting-edge measurements of fundamental physics.

In order to estimate a registration model of eye fundus images made of an affinity and two radial distortions, we introduce an estimation criterion based on an error between the vessels. In [1], we estimated this model by minimising the error between characteristics points. In this paper, the detected vessels are selected using the circle and ellipse equations of the overlap area boundaries deduced from our model. Our method successfully registers 96 % of the 271 pairs in a Public Health dataset acquired mostly with different cameras. This is better than our previous method [1] and better than three other state-of-the-art methods. On a publicly available dataset, ours still better register the images than the reference method.

Many eye fundus images present strong variations of contrast which can be a limitation to the diagnosis of the retinopathy. Either some lesions are not taken into account or only a limited part of the domain of the image can be read. Graders have to manually adjust the contrast, which is tedious and not easily reproducible. We have developed an automatic system, which standardises the colour contrast across the whole domain of the image. The method is consistent with the physical principles or image formation and ensures that the colour aspect of lesions such as micro-aneurysms or anatomical structures such as veins are similar. It is more powerful than the existing grey level methods. We have tested our approach on several thousand images acquired in good or in harsher conditions. Some were bright while others were dark. Expert graders have checked the enhanced images. Diagnosis becomes more obvious and the grading more comfortable. Another limitation for the diagnosis is that images of the same patient acquired for different examinations cannot be directly superimposed. Indeed, the eye of the patient is never in the exact same position, the image is a projection of a 3D scene into the plane of the sensor, the optics of the camera creates a radial deformation and the colour of the image may have changed. We have developed an automatic method to superimpose eye fundus images acquired in the same position (nasal or macular). It is based on contrast standardisation, matching of salient points and a deformation model taking into account two radial distortions. We have performed tests for 69 patients with pairs of retinal examinations acquired in good conditions at an interval of one year with and without the same camera. A similar test has been performed on 5 patients with 20 pairs acquired in harsher conditions. A minimum of 96% of pairs were correctly superimposed. This is an important step towards the longitudinal analysis of large public health databases.

A significant number of digital eye fundus images have strong contrast variations which can be a limiting factor for the diagnosis of the diabetic retinopathy lesions. Currently, to address this problem, graders have to manually adjust the image contrast which is person dependent and therefore not easily reproducible. Images may still be considered un-gradable because they are too bright or too dark. We have developed a fully automatic method, which achieves contrast uniformity across the entire image. The method is based on a colour model consistent with the physical principles of image formation. The contrast of the dark or the bright elements are adjusted in a way that provides a similar colour aspect to lesions such as micro-aneurysms or to anatomical structures such as veins. This method is much more powerful than the previous existing grey level methods using polynomial adjustment, mathematical morphology or histogram equalisations. Our method has been tested on more than 2000 images acquired from different screening services ranging from a high resource country with quality controlled process while others were obtained from low resource countries under harsher conditions. Some images were bright while others were dark making diagnosis difficult. However for all images, the lighting variations have been corrected and the contrast has been enhanced for lesions such as micro-aneurysms and the vascular structures. They are now easier to be detected by graders. This new colour contrast method is a very promising tool to assist graders in diagnosing the presence of diabetic retinopathy and other lesions present in digital eye fundus images since the lesions appear to be much more evident in comparison of the original image. Importantly our method is fully automatic and can be easily integrated in a screening system.

7030 Background: An AABT to aid in lung cancer diagnosis has been recently developed. While less sensitive than computed tomography (CT), it can detect smaller and less-advanced cancers and has greater specificity. The cost-effectiveness of AABT in this use is unknown. Methods: We developed a model depicting the consequences of screening—a single time —a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 high-risk screening-naive patients for lung cancer using CT followed by AABT if positive (CT->AABT) versus CT alone and no screening (with CT or AABT). Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)—indolent and aggressive types—and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were considered. Sensitivity and specificity of AABT (price=$300) were assumed to be 40% and 90% (data on file, Oncimmune Inc.); for CT (price=$301), were calculated to be 47% and 49% from a “prevalence screen” perspective using data from the Mayo Clinic screening study. Cancers detected with CT->AABT were assumed, on average, to be smaller and less advanced due to more aggressive work-up of patients positive on both tests. Cost-effectiveness was calculated as the ratio of the difference in expected costs (2008 USD) to the difference in life-years (LY) (and quality-adjusted life- years [QALYs]) for CT->AABT versus CT alone and no screening. Results: A total of 2,901 of the 100,000 high-risk persons would be expected to have undiagnosed aggressive NSCLC or SCLC. Of the 2,901 cases, 1,363 (true positives) would be detected with CT->AABT or CT alone and would gain 6.3 and 5.7 LYs, respectively, versus no screening; false positives would total 49,079. Cost per LY gained with CT->AABT vs no screening was $20,044, and versus CT alone, $19,293. Estimates of cost per QALY gained were similar. Conclusions: Screening high-risk patients for lung cancer using AABT as an aid to CT based on the above assumptions is likely to be cost-effective by current standards in comparison with screening with CT alone or no screening. Model outcomes (discounted) No screening CT CT- >AABT LY 1,505,557 1,509,526 1,510,392 QALY 1,303,4 17 1,305,991 1,306,651 Costs $230,946,859 $311,161,933 $327,875,140 Screening $0 $30,051,000 $43,780,230 Diagnostic $10,480,549 $51,227,441 $55,250,510 Treatment $220,466,310 $229,88 3,492 $228,844,400 Author Disclosure Employment or Leadership Position Consultant or Advisory Role Stock Ownership Honoraria Research Funding Expert Testimony Other Remuneration Oncimmune Oncimmune Oncimmune Ethicon Endosurgery, Inc., Synovis, Inc. Oncimmune, Policy Analysis Inc. Oncimmune

Since the early 1990s, Loligo forbesi has apparently disappeared from much of the southern part of its former range, with catches off the Iberian Peninsula, for example, declining dramatically during the 1990s. The present paper assembles data from fishery and research cruise databases to examine the evidence for a shift in distribution, examine the relationship between abundance of this species and that of the partially sympatric Loligo vulgaris, and identify possible environmental correlates. Time-series of abundance of L. forbesi and L. vulgaris were assembled using fishery and survey data from Scotland, France, and Portugal. Based on availability of data and timing of the main fishery, data for autumn (October–December) were selected. Nine squid series and two explanatory variables (October sea surface temperature and the winter NAO index) were analysed using dynamic factor analysis (DFA). The optimal DFA model contained two common trends and both of the explanatory variables. The first common trend shows an increase from 1987 to 1999, and a slight decrease after 2000 onwards, and is positively related to L. forbesi abundance in the north of its range (Scotland), while negatively related to squid abundance (both species) in the south of their ranges (France and Portugal). The second trend identifies an increase from 1990 to 1995, followed by a decrease until 2002, and is positively related to the squid (L. forbesi and L. vulgaris) abundance series from French surveys and fisheries. The SST series was significantly related to three squid abundance series: positively with abundance of small L. forbesi in French surveys and negatively with the abundance of small L. forbesi from Scottish surveys and abundance of L. vulgaris in Portuguese surveys. The winter NAO series was significantly related to the abundance of small L. forbesi from Scottish surveys. The increase in SST after 1993 and subsequent high level may thus be associated with the decrease of Loligo abundance in the south area (France and Portugal) and the increase in Loligo abundance in the north area (Scotland).

In summer 2003, the usually small directed fishery for the squid Loligo forbesi in the Moray Firth off the northeast coast of Scotland (UK) generated unusually high catches. This fishery, which targets small squid close inshore, ultimately involved over 65 boats. The present short paper reviews the history of this fishery, examines trends over the last 35 years and possible future management issues are briefly reviewed.

Despite many previous studies on the life history of the squid Loligo forbesi, the roles of internal and external factors in growth and maturation have not previously been investigated in detail. The present study takes advantage of the availability of statistical techniques, namely generalised additive models, which permit simultaneous evaluation of the effects of multiple explanatory variables while avoiding the need to assume linear relationships. This has the further advantage that the size of body parts can be entered directly into the models rather than expressed as indices (e.g., gonado-somatic index). The present analysis is based on measurements taken from monthly market samples during 1989-1991 and aims to infer patterns of reproductive and somatic investment though comparison of large numbers of individuals at different (post recruit) life-cycle stages. Results indicate that, once the effect of body size is removed, gonad weight in both sexes is affected by month and digestive gland weight, consistent with seasonal triggering of maturation, and with energy for gonad growth being derived from food. There is also evidence of a negative relationship between somatic and ovary growth in females, possibly indicating remobilisation of somatic tissue to grow the ovary. In males, relationships between variables tended to have more complex forms, probably related to the existence of two or more growth patterns leading to different sizes at maturity. As found in previous work, maturation begins around 1-2 months earlier in males, suggesting that sensitivity to external triggers is controlled by a sex-dependent internal factor.

The loliginid squid Loligo forbesi has a flexible life-cycle, involving variable size and age at maturity, presence of summer and winter breeding populations, and extended periods of breeding and recruitment. This paper reviews life history data collected since 1983 from the commercial fishery in Scottish (UK) waters, alongside fishery data collected since 1970, and examines (a) the relationship between body size and timing of maturation, (b) evidence for shifts in the relative abundance of the summer and winter breeding populations, and (c) the possible role of environmental signals in determining the timing of breeding. Evidence from fishery data suggests that, since the 1970s, the summer breeding population has declined while the winter breeding population now dominates and breeds later than was previously the case. Length-weight relationships and size at maturity showed significant inter-annual and seasonal variation during the period 1983-2001. Males are shown to decline in relative weight as they mature while females increase in relative weight; possible interpretations are discussed. High autumn/winter temperatures (high winter NAO values) were associated with high squid abundance and precocious maturation and tended to favour high abundance in the following year, along with increased body weight at length and a decrease in the proportion of animals breeding in December. High abundance in summer, conversely, leads to a fall of body weight at length in the following year. Thus there may be alternation of precocious and slow maturation. and/or summer and winter breeding, driven by a combination of environmental conditions and intraspecific competition.

Varicose veins are a common problem that also comes up frequently in clinical examination stations. Lisa Jeavons and Suneeta Kochhar take you through the history, examination, and treatment

The spatial and temporal distribution patterns of cuttlefish abundance and the relationships between cuttlefish abundance and environmental variables in the French Atlantic coast, the English Channel, and adjacent waters were studied using both geographical information system and statistical methods. Cuttlefish have a clear general annual migration pattern, consistently occurring in broadly the same areas in different years. The strength of the Atlantic currents into the west part of the English Channel and the south part of the Celtic Sea may be the dominant influence on the timing of cuttlefish migration to these areas. Local abundance shows a positive correlation with SST, although it is difficult to determine if this reflects any causal link. Cuttlefish expand their distribution further north in the spawning season in warm years and shift south in cool years. The centre of high abundance in offshore deep water shifts north in warm winters and south in cool winters. (C) 2003 International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of thermal stress upon pattern development in Loligo forbesi was investigated. Levels of pattern disruption and pattern asymmetry were measured by examining the chromatophores of hatchlings reared at three constant temperatures (8, 12 and 16 degreesC). Results indicate a strong positive correlation between thermal stress and disruption of embryonic chromatophore pattern. Asymmetry in chromatophore pattern occurs non-directionally and can therefore be described as fluctuating asymmetry.

The effect of thermal stress upon pattern development in Loligo forbesi was investigated. Levels of pattern disruption and pattern asymmetry were measured by examining the chromatophores of hatchlings reared at three constant temperatures (8, 12 and 16°C). Results indicate a strong positive correlation between thermal stress and disruption of embryonic chromatophore pattern. Asymmetry in chromatophore pattern occurs non-directionally and can therefore be described as fluctuating asymmetry.

The effect of thermal stress upon pattern development in Loligo forbesi was investigated. Levels of pattern disruption and pattern asymmetry were measured by examining the chromatophores of hatchlings reared at three constant temperatures (8, 12 and 16°C). Results indicate a strong positive correlation between thermal stress and disruption of embryonic chromatophore pattern. Asymmetry in chromatophore pattern occurs non-directionally and can therefore be described as fluctuating asymmetry.