Peter W. B. Phillips

Ambient Lighting: Effect of Illumination on Soft-Copy Viewing of Radiographs of the Wrist

OBJECTIVE The aim of the work was to establish optimum ambient light conditions for viewing radiologic images of the wrist on liquid crystal display monitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Five ambient light levels were investigated: 480, 100, 40, 25, and 7 lux. Seventy-nine experienced radiologists were asked to examine 30 posteroanterior wrist images and decide whether a fracture was present. All images were displayed on liquid crystal display monitors. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed, and the numbers of false-positive and false-negative findings were recorded. RESULTS For all the radiologists, greater area under the receiver operating characteristic curve and lower numbers of false-positive and false-negative findings were recorded at 40 and 25 lux compared with 480 and 100 lux. At 7 lux, the results were generally similar to those at 480 and 100 lux. The experience and knowledge of radiologists specializing in imaging of musculoskeletal trauma appeared to compensate in part for inappropriate lighting levels. CONCLUSION Typical office lighting and current recommendations on ambient lighting can reduce diagnostic efficacy compared with lower levels of ambient lighting. If, however, no light other than that of the monitor is used, results are similar to those with excessive levels of lighting. Careful control of ambient lighting is therefore required to ensure that diagnostic accuracy is maximized, particularly for clinicians not expert in interpreting posteroanterior wrist images.

Competitors co-operating: establishing a supply chain to manage genetically modified canola

Identity preserving production and marketing (IPPM) systems are used extensively in the Canadian canola industry to segregate varieties with different traits from the commodity stream. This paper examines one use of identify preserved production and marketing systems for genetically modified (GM) canola. A number of transgenic herbicide tolerant (HT) varieties have been approved for release in Canada since 1995 but delays in approval in other countries led the Canadian canola sector to use IPPM systems to segregate these varieties and direct them toward accepted markets. This paper looks at a number of systems developed for input-trait GM canola, with a focus on the governance mechanisms used.

Comparing a Pharmaceutical and an Agro-food Bioregion: On the Importance of Knowledge Bases for Socio-spatial Patterns of Innovation

The aim of this paper is to compare the socio‐spatial patterns of innovation and knowledge linkages of a biopharmaceutical and an agro‐food biotech cluster. Dissimilarities can be expected based on differences in terms of historical technological regimes and sectoral innovation system dynamics between the agro‐food and pharmaceutical industries in general and particularly the distinctive analytical (science‐based) knowledge base of biopharmaceuticals in contrast with the more synthetic (engineering‐based) knowledge base of agro‐food biotechnology. Drawing on bibliometric data and case material the study compares two representative bioregions: a biopharmaceutical cluster in Scania, Sweden and an agro‐food biotech cluster in Saskatoon, Canada. The empirical study supports the theoretical expectations and shows that knowledge dynamics in the agro‐food cluster are more localized than in the biopharmaceuticals cluster. It is important, however, to acknowledge that these differences are relative. Both sectors display local and non‐local patterns of collaboration following the general pattern for biotechnology.

The biotechnology revolution in global agriculture: innovation, invention and investment in the canola industry.

Approaches and measurement of innovation an introduction to the history of canola and the scientific basis for innovation innovation in the canola sector the evolving industry industrial development and collective action the role ofpublic sector institutions the role of private firm the impact of location on production why regulate the market? regulating discovery regulating domestic markets regulation international trade in knowledge based products the theory of the gains to research the aggregate gains from research distributing the gains from research lessons for the future

The Economic Impact of Herbicide Tolerant Canola in Canada

The ultimate question asked of any change in technology is “qui bono? ” or “who benefits? ” Past waves of technological change in the agrifood sector have delivered a relatively straightforward distribution of benefits and costs (see Alston et al., 2000). Agricultural biotechnology has potentially changed that historical distribution of impacts. Whereas many of the innovations in the canola industry have been yield-enhancing traits, developed by public researchers and provided at low (or no) cost to producers, most recent developments have occurred in the private sector, protected by enhanced private intellectual property rights and commercialized through increasingly proprietary systems (Phillips & Khachatourians, 2001).

Biotechnology in the global agri-food system

The advent of biotechnology presents fundamental challenges to the global agri-food industry. While the scientific base for agri-food production is being revolutionised, it is not clear if or how the technology will be used. Proponents of biotechnology and a large portion of agri-food policy makers around the world project a positive future in which technology overcomes food shortages, improves the environment, heals or eliminates disease and leads to a prosperous and healthy society. A smaller but significant array of policy makers, citizens and consumers fear that the technology will exacerbate food insecurity, threaten the environment, endanger human health and ultimately impoverish society itself. Although scientists and industry are convinced the fears are unfounded, it is not clear that our social institutions will be able to adapt, adopt and use the technology in a way that will satisfy society and improve social welfare.

Knowledge Management in Advanced Technology Industries: An Examination of International Agricultural Biotechnology Clusters

Innovation—the social process of developing, adapting, and adopting new technologies and products into the economy and society—is being driven by increasingly intensive use of knowledge. Although knowledge is often considered inherently nonrival and nonexcludable, increasing complexity has combined with new private property rights mechanisms to erect barriers to use. One approach to overcoming the challenge of accessing and using knowledge has been for firms and other actors to cluster geographically in a few locations around the world, in order to capture scale and scope economies. This paper offers a theoretical explanation for this agglomeration, examines the extent of clustering in the agricultural biotechnology industry, and investigates one specific cluster—in Saskatoon, Canada—that has sustained success in generating successive innovation. Preliminary results indicate that clusters appear to be prevalent in areas where knowledge is diffuse, complicated, and actively protected. Finally, our results also suggest that regional knowledge management is enhanced through an optimal number of actors operating within the parameters of seven defined cluster-based functions: three primary (science, technology and collective) and four mixed or hybrid activities.

Tracking Eye Gaze during Interpretation of Endoluminal Three-dimensional CT Colonography: Visual Perception of Experienced and Inexperienced Readers

PURPOSE To identify and compare key stages of the visual process in experienced and inexperienced readers and to examine how these processes are used to search a moving three-dimensional ( 3D three-dimensional ) image and their relationship to false-negative errors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board research ethics approval was granted to use anonymized computed tomographic (CT) colonographic data from previous studies and to obtain eye-tracking data from volunteers. Sixty-five radiologists (27 experienced, 38 inexperienced) interpreted 23 endoluminal 3D three-dimensional CT colonographic videos. Eye movements were recorded by using eye tracking with a desk-mounted tracker. Readers indicated when they saw a polyp by clicking a computer mouse. Polyp location and boundary on each video frame were quantified and gaze data were related to the polyp boundary for each individual reader and case. Predefined metrics were quantified and used to describe and compare visual search patterns between experienced and inexperienced readers by using multilevel modeling. RESULTS Time to first pursuit was significantly shorter in experienced readers (hazard ratio, 1.22 [95% confidence interval: 1.04, 1.44]; P = .017) but other metrics were not significantly different. Regardless of expertise, metrics such as assessment, identification period, and pursuit times were extended in videos where polyps were visible on screen for longer periods of time. In 97% (760 of 787) of observations, readers correctly pursued polyps. CONCLUSION Experienced readers had shorter time to first eye pursuit, but many other characteristics of eye tracking were similar between experienced and inexperienced readers. Readers pursued polyps in 97% of observations, which indicated that errors during interpretation of 3D three-dimensional CT colonography in this study occurred in either the discovery or the recognition phase, but rarely in the scanning phase of radiologic image inspection.

Regulating the liabilities of agricultural biotechnology.

Liability and transformative technology Consumer responses to GM foods Social amplification of risk Regulating transformative technologies International Governance of liabilities Biological mechanisms to control GM liabilties Supply chain responses to liability Product differentiation strategies Liability of plant made pharmaceuticals Handling liabilities from transformative technologies

Handbook on Agriculture, Biotechnology and Development

This book is a compendium of knowledge, experience and insight on agriculture, biotechnology and development. Beginning with an account of GM crop adoptions and attitudes towards them, the book assesses numerous crucial processes, concluding with detailed insights into GM products. Drawing on expert perspectives of leading authors from 57 different institutions in 16 countries, it provides a unique, global overview of agbiotech following 20 years of adoption. Many consider GM crops the most rapid agricultural innovation adopted in the history of agriculture. This book provides insights as to why the adoption has occurred globally at such a rapid rate.