News & Events
The ISML group participates in sponsor-funded research and development and supports a number of conferences in scientific and technical areas. Recent events and information regarding our research, publications, proposals, awards, technical directions, conferences, staffing, and student and faculty visitors will be posted here on a regular basis.
This page only contains information for the current calendar year. For older events please visit our ISML Archive News and Events page.
September Highlights 2012
Artemis Project highlighted in IEEE Computer Magazine
While it may take forensic experts between 2 to 5 days to investigate a home computer for child pornography, a digital forensic tool can do the same thing in minutes.
Artemis, a digital forensic tool suite developed by Chris Boehnen of ORNL's Measurement Science & Systems Engineering Division and the University of North Carolina, Wilmington for the Knoxville Police Department, can scan computers and memory devices for child pornography using facial analytics with other technologies. While this doesn't eliminate the need for human examiners, it does save law enforcement time. the technology is featured in the September IEEE Computer magazine.
Artemis compares images with those of known files, performing object recognition and identifying exposed skin and analyzing facial features to identify the faces of children versus adults. It forms a "triage" scan in minutes that outputs forensic reports that identify suspicious images and videos.
Artemis is available for free to law enforcement agencies and is used by more than 100 agencies worldwide.
April Highlights 2012
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ISML Group Book Chapter in Medical Imaging edited by Okechukwu Felix Erondu released online
The chapter entitled "Large-Scale User Facility Imaging and Scattering Techniques to Facilitate Basic Medical Research" was developed by members of ISML and the SNS staff at ORNL and provides an introduction to large scale user facilities and their application to medical research challenges. In particular, neutron imaging and scattering techniques are introduced and potential medical applications of these techniques are presented. Click on link below to access the book chapter.
June Highlights 2011
Iris Project Highlighted in Energy and Environmental Sciences Quarterly Newsletter (Page 3)
ISML Group was highlighted in the Energy and Environmental Sciences Quaterly Newsletter. Dr. Chris Boehnen is pictured working on the Iris Project. PDF Document
September Highlights 2010
Imaging, Signals, and Machine Learning Group Provides Image Analysis Tools to Help Catch Child Predators
Chris Boehnen and Ryan Kerekes in the Imaging, Signals, and Machine Learning (ISML) Group developed a suite of image analysis tools to help the Knoxville Police Department quickly search the computers of suspected child predators for evidence of criminal activity. The software tool rapidly sifts through hundreds of thousands of images on a suspect’s computer and uses automated search algorithms to flag potential child pornography images. The tool then generates a report containing a ranked list of suspicious images that can be submitted to the D.A’s office and/or used to press charges. ISML is also working with members of the Applied Software Engineering Group at ORNL who are interested in applying advanced text searching technology to help locate evidence on the computer pointing to child pornography activity. Drs. Boehnen (PI) and Kerekes (Co-PI) recently won two years of funding from the National Institute of Justice to further develop the automated image search technology. See a local news story on this topic by clicking the link below.
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=133510July Highlights 2010
ISML publishes book chapter on x-ray micro-CT technology
Shaun Gleason, PhD, authored a book chapter on x-ray micro-CT in a new textbook entitled: Molecular Imaging: Principles and Practice (http://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/html/1607950057.html).
The chapter is entitled “ Principles of micro x-ray computed tomography.”
Abstract: Like its clinical counterpart, x-ray computed tomography (CT), high resolution x-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT) is a widely used modality for imaging anatomy in living specimens. In this chapter, we review the basic physics of microCT systems designed for high resolution studies of laboratory animals, the mathematical principles used to develop reconstructed images, the key factors that determine image quality, and some of the commonly used applications for this technology. Anatomic information provided with microCT technology is valuable in molecular imaging applications in at least two specific areas: (1) the anatomy provides a physical context or “map” that shows where in the body molecular events are taking place and (2) there are molecular events that have a direct impact on anatomic structures that can be imaged using microCT.
March Highlights 2010
ISML group studies neutron imaging for cancer
Trent Nichols, MD, PhD, was awarded an ORNL Seed Money to study the effectiveness of neutron imaging for tumor margin determination. Here is a summary of the project and its goals:
Project Title: Neutron Imaging for the Determination of Tumor Margins
Project Description: Biopsy specimens from naturally occurring animal malignancies (sarcoma, melanoma, and adenocarcinoma of the breast) will be fixed and stained with standard stains that have been boronated with 10B to provide contrast. The selected malignancies are animal models for human tumors and will be obtained from existing samples or fresh medically indicated biopsies. A pinhole source at the terminus of the HFIR cold guide 1 (CG-1) will be used with a microchannel plate detector to obtain images. The neutron images will be obtained to delineate the margins of tumors from the surrounding normal tissue. The stained specimens will be read with both standard and boronated stains and compared to the neutron images.
A glioblastoma multiforme are shown with surrounding normal tissue demonstrates the difficulty in determining the tumor extent.