Nero Burning Rom

Did you know that Nero was the fifth emperor of Rome? During his reign, two-thirds of Rome burned.

I was thinking of Nero the emperor as I was burning CDs containing our final thesis submissibles. Nero Burning ROM. Very apt.

I still can't believe that this is it. Our final thesis submissibles. After some more changes, printing, and then book binding, we'll finally be through! I think it's only right to dedicate at least one journal entry to the topic that we've literally been crazy about for one whole year.

In behalf of Group AIM and the UP Computer Vision and Machine Intelligence Group, I present to you, e-NoDes, our early nodule detection project.

Wait... That sounds like Ponch...

I really don't want to be a techie explaining our methodology and all that. If you want a more detailed explanation of e-NoDeS, click here. Let's cross our fingers that Ponch updated the site already...

Anyway, what is e-NoDeS? e-NoDeS stands for Early Nodule Detection Software. Our project was formerly called NoduledeTech (Nodule Detection Technology), and before that, CALUNOD (Computer Aided Lung Nodule Detection). We're all thankful that one of our advisers, Dr. Berlin Go, helped us think of a better name.

e-NoDeS aims to detect nodules, masses that may be caused by cancer, less than 2mm in size. We use a template to match the circular structures that may be found in a patient's CT scans. We implement template matching in two algorithms: HU Constrained Search and Particle Swarm Optimization... And the rest of the discussion may be found in our paper. Hehe. I was getting too techie there. I didn't like it.

Anyway, my groupmates, Ponch and Alvin, and I hope that this software be used by those who need it. We know that what we've done is far from perfect, but we're hoping that interested researchers will continue our study in the future and be able to produce a better version of it.

e-NoDeS has made me worry that I wouldn't be able to graduate. It has deprived me of sleep. It has made me extend hours in the thesis lab. But it has also made me and my laptop, Suzystitch, best friends in less than 6 months. It has made me more confident during presentations. Most importantly, e-NoDeS has made me believe that what I think cannot be done can be accomplished with hard work, patience, team work, and lots of faith.

Thank you's:
Sir Pros and Ma'am Berlin - for the criticism and help in improving our project
Leng - for replacing our slow connection with 100Mbps Internet and singing for us when we're bored
Sarah, Gino, and Chesca - for being fun neighbors and for making us laugh even with the pressure
Chris, Miki, Jam, Daniw, Rhea and Hanna - for being great friends and for the pictur pictur times inside the lab
GOD - for answering our prayers