2047results about How to "Improve discrimination" patented technology

This invention provides an apparatus and method for analyzing a polynucleotide sequence; either an unknown sequence or a known sequence. A support, e.g. a glass plate, carries an array of the whole or a chosen part of a complete set of oligonucleotides which are capable of taking part in hybridization reactions. The array may comprise one or more pair of oligonucleotides of chosen lengths. The polynucleotide sequence, or fragments thereof, are labelled and applied to the array under hybridizing conditions. Applications include analyses of known point mutations, genomic fingerprinting, linkage analysis, characterization of mRNAs, mRNA populations, and sequence determination.

Systems and methods are described for scoring consumers' credit risk by determining consumers' income risk and future ability to pay. Methods are provided for measuring consumers' income risk by analyzing consumers' income loss risk, income reduction risk, probability of continuance of income, and economy's impact on consumers' income. In one embodiment, a method is provided to evaluate an individual's creditworthiness using income risk based credit score thereby providing creditors, lenders, marketers, and companies with deeper, new insights into consumer's credit risk and repayment potential. By predicting consumers' income risk and the associated creditworthiness the present invention increases the accuracy and reliability of consumers' credit risk assessments, results in more predictive and precise consumer credit scoring, and offers a new method of rendering a forward-looking appraisal of an individual's ability to repay a debt or the ability to pay for products and services.

A scanning endoscope, amenable to both rigid and flexible forms, scans a beam of light across a field-of-view, collects light scattered from the scanned beam, detects the scattered light, and produces an image. The endoscope may comprise one or more bodies housing a controller, light sources, and detectors; and a separable tip housing the scanning mechanism. The light sources may include laser emitters that combine their outputs into a polychromatic beam. Light may be emitted in ultraviolet or infrared wavelengths to produce a hyperspectral image. The detectors may be housed distally or at a proximal location with gathered light being transmitted thereto via optical fibers. A plurality of scanning elements may be combined to produce a stereoscopic image or other imaging modalities. The endoscope may include a lubricant delivery system to ease passage through body cavities and reduce trauma to the patient. The imaging components are especially compact, being comprised in some embodiments of a MEMS scanner and optical fibers, lending themselves to interstitial placement between other tip features such as working channels, irrigation ports, etc.

The invention provides methods for sequencing by hybridization (SBH) using pools of probes that allow greater efficiency in conducting SBH by reducing the number of separate measurements of hybridization signals required to identify each particular nucleotide in a target nucleic acid sequence. The invention also provides pools and sets of pools of probes, as well as methods of generating pools of probes.

Whether or not the CW radar is utilized for through-the-wall detection, additional one or more sensors are used with the CW radar to confirm the motion detection result or to in fact turn on the CW radar once motion or the physical presence of an individual has been sensed, thereby to provide confirmation of a less-reliable sensor with the use of the more reliable CW radar. Thus, the addition of other sensors provides lower power consumption, lower false alarm rates and better discrimination and classification of moving objects.

A process for the production of beta-3-(1,3)(1,6) glucan from a glucan containing cellular source is described, together with compositions and uses/methods of treatment involving glucan. The process of the invention comprises the steps of: (a) extracting glucan containing cells with alkali and heat, in order to remove alkali soluble components; (b) acid extracting the cells of step (a) with an acid and heat to form a suspension; (c) extracting the suspension obtained of step (b) or recovered hydrolyzed cells with an organic solvent which is non-miscible with water and which has a density greater than that of water separating the resultant aqueous phase, solvent containing phase and interface so that substantially only the aqueous phase comprising beta-(1,3)(1,6) glucan particulate material remains; wherein the extraction with said organic solvent provides separation of glucan subgroups comprising branched beta-(1,3)(1,6)-glucan, and essentially unbranched beta-(1,3) glucan which is associated with residual non-glucan contaminents; and (d) drying the glucan material from step (c) to give microparticulate glucan.

Method of an arrangement for monitoring sleep in a subject by measuring within a prescribed interval skin temperature of a predetermined region of the subject's body and a motion sensor for sensing motion of the subject, comparing the measured skin temperature of the predetermined region with a predetermined temperature threshold, and classifying the subject as being asleep or awake based on whether the skin temperature of the predetermined region is above or below the temperature threshold and on the motion data. In alternative aspects the invention relates to methods of and arrangements for manipulating sleep, as well as monitoring or manipulating alertness.

A biosensor for monitoring an analyte content with a partial voltage generated therefrom is provided. The present biosensor includes a chip having a resistance R_s, a power source, and a microprocessor. The power source is used for supplying an applied voltage on the chip. The chip generates a time-dependent response current in response to a content of an analyte of a specimen applied thereon upon supplying the applied voltage on the chip. The microprocessor receives a time-dependent partial voltage caused from the chip due to the time-dependent response current, and determines the content of the analyte in accordance with the time-dependent partial voltage. The present biosensor is provided with fewer elements than a conventional one. A purpose of cost down is thus obtained.

A system and method of computer aided analysis of medical images and detection of malignant lesions is described. Medical images obtained from multiple modalities are analyzed. Morphological features as well as temporal, i.e., kinetics features, are combined to compute a consolidated assessment of a possible lesion detected in the medical images. The system includes at least one kinetics module, which is capable of extracting kinetics features from a time sequence of MRI images or MRS data taken after administering a contrast enhancement agent to a patient. The consolidated assessment is presented to a user for confirmation or modification.

An improved method and apparatus for discriminating between currency bills of different denominations uses an optical sensing and correlation technique based on the sensing of bill reflectance characteristics obtained by illuminating and scanning a bill along one of its dimensions. A series of detected reflectance signals are obtained by sampling and digitally processing, under microprocessor control, the reflected light at a plurality of predefined sample points as a currency bill is moved across an illuminated strip with a preselected dimension parallel to the direction of transport of the bill. The sample data is subjected to digital processing, including a normalizing process, whereby the reflectance data represents a characteristic pattern that is unique for a given bill denomination and incorporates sufficient distinguishing features between characteristic patterns for discriminating between different currency denominations. A plurality of master characteristic patterns are generated and stored using original bills for each denomination of currency to be detected. The pattern generated by scanning a bill under test and processing the data samples is compared with each of the prestored master patterns to generate, for each comparison, a correlation number representing the extent of similarity between corresponding ones of the plurality of data samples for the compared patterns. Denomination identification is based on designating the scanned bill as belonging to the denomination corresponding to the stored master pattern for which the correlation number resulting from pattern comparison is determined to be the highest, subject to a bi-level threshold of correlation.

A voice controlled voice-messaging systems permits manipulation of voice messages over the telephone without the need for keypressed commands. Manipulation includes playback of messages, deletion of messages, saving messages, and sending a new message to a recipient from a user-defined list. Access to the messaging system is by spoken password. Voice input also allows the following functions: enrollment of a spoken password; granting or refusing user access to the system based on verification of the user speaking a password; recognition of spoken utterances of "yes" and "no" in response to prompts by the VMS; recognition of "stop" to interrupt and stop a voice message during playback; enrollment of a spoken personal directory of names of potential message recipients; and recognition of names in the spoken personal directory. The invention uses speaker verification, speaker-independent recognition (SIR) of "yes/no", speaker-independent recognition of "stop" during message playback, and speaker-dependent recognition (SDR) of a limited vocabulary of short phrases such as a list of message recipients' names.

Apparatus for separating particulate matter from an airstream includes a housing including an intake for particulates-containing air and an exhaust for cleaned air, in which the apparatus includes a primary vortex generator in the intake air and the housing includes a separation zone which includes primary and secondary separation chambers each associated with respective particulates collector and including an interconnector adapted to generate a secondary vortex in the secondary separation chamber.

Noise discrimination in signals from a plurality of sensors is conducted by enhancing the phase difference in the signals such that off-axis pick-up is suppressed while on-axis pick-up is enhanced. Alternatively, attenuation/expansion are applied to the signals in a phase difference dependent manner, consistent with suppression of off-axis pick-up and on-axis enhancement. Nulls between sensitivity lobes are widened, effectively narrowing the sensitivity lobes and improving directionality and noise discrimination.

A method and apparatus is disclosed for detecting, classifying and identifying airborne and non-airborne particles on an individual basis in substantially real time by directing a particle stream to react with optical reporters and markers and then exposing the stream to an excitation source such that individual particles have their multiple identifying characteristics detected.

This invention provides a system and method for object detection and collision avoidance for objects and vehicles located behind the cab or front section of an elongated, and possibly tandem, vehicle. Through the use of narrow-baseline stereo vision that can be vertically oriented relative to the ground/road surface, the system and method can employ relatively inexpensive cameras, in a stereo relationship, on a low-profile mounting, to perform reliable detection with good range discrimination. The field of detection is sufficiently behind and aside the rear area to assure an adequate safety zone in most instances. Moreover, this system and method allows all equipment to be maintained on the cab of a tandem vehicle, rather than the interchangeable, and more-prone-to-damage cargo section and/or trailer. One or more cameras can be mounted on, or within, the mirror on each side, on aerodynamic fairings or other exposed locations of the vehicle. Image signals received from each camera can be conditioned before they are matched and compared for disparities viewed above the ground surface, and according to predetermined disparity criteria.