Abstract: A method of providing decision support for personnel hiring, the method comprises receiving a list of one or more mandatory hiring criteria and one or more desirable hiring criteria for a position, retrieving a profile of a job candidate from a candidate case base, computing a suitability of the job candidate for the position by determining if the job candidate profile includes all mandatory hiring criteria, and responsive to the job candidate profile including all mandatory hiring criteria, computing a suitability ranking of the job candidate based on a degree of similarity of the one or more mandatory hiring criteria and one or more desirable hiring criteria to qualifications in the job candidate profile, and ranking the job candidate against other job candidates based on the suitability ranking of the job candidate and suitability rankings of the other job candidates.

Abstract: A method for indexing a plurality of nodes using a computer system is provided. The computer system includes data storage and a processor coupled to the data storage. The method includes acts of storing the plurality of nodes in the data storage, each of the plurality of nodes having a hit count, a link count and an outcome, creating a qualitative index ordering a plurality of nodes according to the hit count, the link count and the outcome of each node and storing the qualitative index in the data storage. The hit count of each node indicates a number of times a case attribute associated with the node is presented to a user. The link count of each node indicates a number of times the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful. The outcome of each node indicates a desirability of the outcome.

Abstract: A method for indexing a plurality of nodes using a computer system is provided. The computer system includes data storage and a processor coupled to the data storage. The method includes acts of storing the plurality of nodes in the data storage, each of the plurality of nodes having a hit count, a link count and an outcome, creating a qualitative index ordering a plurality of nodes according to the hit count, the link count and the outcome of each node and storing the qualitative index in the data storage. The hit count of each node indicates a number of times a case attribute associated with the node is presented to a user. The link count of each node indicates a number of times the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful. The outcome of each node indicates a desirability of the outcome.

Abstract: A method for indexing a plurality of nodes using a computer system is provided. The computer system includes data storage and a processor coupled to the data storage. The method includes acts of storing the plurality of nodes in the data storage, each of the plurality of nodes having a hit count, a link count and an outcome, creating a qualitative index ordering a plurality of nodes according to the hit count, the link count and the outcome of each node and storing the qualitative index in the data storage. The hit count of each node indicates a number of times a case attribute associated with the node is presented to a user. The link count of each node indicates a number of times the case attribute associated with the node is affirmed as useful. The outcome of each node indicates a desirability of the outcome.

Abstract: A method for automated analysis of textural differences present on an image volume. The image volume includes a plurality of volume elements, and each volume element has a gray level. The method includes defining a volume of interest (VOI); performing texture measures within the VOI; and classifying the VOI as belonging to a tissue pathology class based upon the texture measures. Computer readable media encoded with computer readable instructions for carrying out these functions. An apparatus that includes an image input adapted to receive a diagnostic medical image. The image includes a plurality of pixels, and each pixel has a particular gray level. The apparatus also includes a display for displaying a graphical user interface and the received image; and a processor adapted to perform texture measures on one or more groups of pixels within the image and classify each group of pixels to a tissue pathology class based upon the textures measures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing CT images to determine the presence of pulmonary tissue pathology, such as in emphysema, IPF, sarcoid, etc. In accordance with one embodiment, a CT slice is selected to perform an automated, objective, and quantitative analysis of the slice. Initially, an image processing stage is performed, which includes segmentation and edgementation of the selected CT slice for preparation of a series of objective, quantitative measures to be performed on the slice. A region of interest (ROI) is selected on the CT slice in which these objective, quatitative measures are to be taken. The first set of objective, quantitative measures are first order texture measures that describe a frequency of occurrence of all gray levels assigned to pixels within the ROI of the image slice. The second set of objective, quantitative measures are second order texture measures that characterize the spatial interdependencies between particular pixels of the ROI.

Abstract: An automated classifier receives input data indicative of a prospective surgical patient's mediastinal volume, body surface area and gender, and provides a classifier output signal indicative of quality of fit of a totally implantable artificial heart in the chest cavity of the patient. The present invention assists the surgical team in making their preoperative decision regarding whether or not the totally implantable artificial heart will fit in the chest cavity of the candidate patient. The classifier may also receive as input parameters: the distance between the patient's spine at the sternum at the level of the pulmonary bifurcation; the distance between the spine and the sternum in a caudal heart slice; the maximum left to right distance dimension of the heart; the distance from the rightmost end of the heart to the left chest wall; and the maximum left to right dimension of the chest cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for analyzing CT images to determine the presence of pulmonary tissue pathology, such as in emphysema, IPF, sarcoid, etc. In accordance with one embodiment, a CT slice is selected to perform an automated, objective, and quantitative analysis of the slice. Initially, an image processing stage is performed, which includes segmentation and edgementation of the selected CT slice for preparation of a series of objective, quantitative measures to be performed on the slice. A region of interest (ROI) is selected on the CT slice in which these objective, quatitative measures are to be taken. The first set of objective, quantitative measures are first order texture measures that describe a frequency of occurrence of all gray levels assigned to pixels within the ROI of the image slice. The second set of objective, quantitative measures are second order texture measures that characterize the spatial interdependencies between particular pixels of the ROI.

Abstract: The present invention, in one form, is a method for generating a calcification score in a CT image data using a scoring algorithm. In accordance with one embodiment of the algorithm, a calcium score is determined by identifying a scorable region in the image data, defining at least one region of interest in the scorable region, and determining a density score. After determining a calcium score for each region of interest, a total calcium score is determined. In addition, to correct for unequal and/or non-contiguous spacing of the slices of image data, a weighted total calcium score is determined.

Abstract: A method of and system for rendering a halftone image of a gray scale image by utilizing a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the gray scale image against a blue noise mask is disclosed in which the gray scale image is scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis and compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis to an array of corresponding data points contained in a blue noise mask stored in a PROM or computer memory in order to produce the desired halftoned image. Both digital and optically implemented halftone methods are disclosed. Application specific modifications of the blue noise mask as well as its use for producing halftoned color images are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of and system for rendering a halftone image of a gray scale image by utilizing a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the gray scale image against a blue noise mask is disclosed in which the gray scale image is scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis and compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis to an array of corresponding data points contained in a blue noise mask stored in a PROM or computer memory in order to produce the desired halftoned image. Both digital and optically implemented halftone methods are disclosed. Application specific modifications of the blue noise mask as well as its use for producing halftoned color images are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of and system for rendering a halftone image of a gray scale image by utilizing a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the gray scale image against a blue noise mask is disclosed in which the gray scale image is scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis and compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis to an array of corresponding data points contained in a blue noise mask stored in a PROM or computer memory in order to produce the desired halftoned image. Both digital and optically implemented halftone methods are disclosed. Application specific modifications of the blue noise mask as well as its use for producing halftoned color images are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of and system for rendering a halftone image of a gray scale image by utilizing a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the gray scale image against a blue noise mask is disclosed in which the gray scale image is scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis and compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis to an array of corresponding data points contained in a blue noise mask stored in a PROM or computer memory in order to produce the desired halftoned image. Both digital and optically implemented halftone methods are disclosed. Application specific modifications of the blue noise mask as well as its use for producing halftoned color images are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of and system for rendering a halftone image of a gray scale image by utilizing a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the gray scale image against a blue noise mask is disclosed in which the gray scale image is scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis and compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis to an array of corresponding data points contained in a blue noise mask stored in a PROM or computer memory in order to produce the desired halftoned image. Both digital and optically implemented halftone methods are disclosed. Application specific modifications of the blue noise mask as well as its use for producing halftoned color images are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of and system for rendering a halftone image of a gray scale image by utilizing a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the gray scale image against a blue noise mask is disclosed in which the gray scale image is scanned on a pixel-by-pixel basis and compared on a pixel-by-pixel basis to an array of corresponding data points contained in a blue noise mask stored in a PROM or computer memory in order to produce the desired halftoned image. Both digital and optically implemented halftone methods are disclosed.