Abstract: An ink blend consisting of a polymer, a weakly cross-linking agent and a nanomaterial deposited to form a thin polymer-nanomaterial composite film with unique mechanical and electrical properties suitable for high performance strain sensing applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for limiting the power output of a transcutaneous electrical stimulator in response to changes in electrode impedance. The apparatus comprises pulse generating means having output terminals for delivering a pulsed electrical current through a circuit that contains at least two electrodes intended to be attached to the skin; measuring means coupled to the pulse generator and configured to measure the voltage across the output terminals in response to applied current; comparing means coupled to the measuring means and configured to compare the voltage measured during the pulse against a voltage threshold; and control means coupled to the comparing means and configured to limit the phase charge of the pulse when the measured voltage exceeds the voltage threshold.

Abstract: A monitoring system for sleep, awake, vegetative or semi-comatose states, and transmitter for the sensor data monitored to a receiving system for data storage and analysis where that analysis can respond with an alarm or log for future analysis by health care professional or caregiver.

Abstract: A single layer roofing material having a headlap portion and a tab portion wherein the headlap portion has a color-value gradient or gradation and the tab portion has tabs and openings. The tabs may have a relatively uniform color. Openings between tabs expose the color gradient of the headlap portion when a first sheet of the roofing material is installed over a second sheet on a structure. A plurality of horizontal striations may be used to establish the desired color-value gradient. An illusion of depth or thickness is created when the roofing material is applied to a structure, such as a roof deck. The amount of tone and contrast may be selected to create the desired illusion of depth or thickness. The amount of contrast may be varied depending upon the color selected for each roofing material. The number of horizontal striations and their width may also be varied to provide the desired color-value gradient. Tab color, shape and size may also be varied to enhance the illusion of depth.

Abstract: A roofing system comprising laminated roofing shingles having a reduced-width headlap portion and a buttlap portion, wherein the roofing system comprises a plurality of courses, and wherein a trailing edge of a subsequently installed shingle in a course overlaps the leading edge of an adjacent previously installed shingle in the same course. The reduced-width headlap portion of the roofing shingles has a width that is less than the width of the buttlap portion. The roofing shingle comprises a first and a second shingle sheet and the lateral edges of the first shingle sheet are aligned with the lateral edges of the second sheet.

Abstract: A system for tracking a billing cycle in a billing system includes a data tracking engine and a rule-based engine. The rule-based engine retrieves information from the billing system during the billing cycle based on a set of rules, and provides the data to the data tracking engine. The data tracking engine generates status information and reports based on the data. The status information and reports can be accessed via a web client to monitor the billing cycle. Additionally, the rule-based engine identifies events in the billing cycle and generates a notification to alert a person if the event is not successfully completed according to a billing schedule. The notification can be accessed via a web client or a wireless communications device. The rule-based engine can subsequently issue an escalated notification to alert another user if the event has not successfully completed at a later time.

Abstract: A roofing system comprising laminated roofing shingles having a reduced-width headlap portion and a buttlap portion, wherein the roofing system comprises a plurality of courses, and wherein a trailing edge of a subsequently installed shingle in a course overlaps the leading edge of an adjacent previously installed shingle in the same course. The reduced-width headlap portion of the roofing shingles has a width that is less than the width of the buttlap portion. The roofing shingle comprises a first and a second shingle sheet and the lateral edges of the first shingle sheet are aligned with the lateral edges of the second sheet.

Abstract: A system for tracking a billing cycle in a billing system includes a data tracking engine and a rule-based engine. The rule-based engine retrieves information from the billing system during the billing cycle based on a set of rules, and provides the data to the data tracking engine. The data tracking engine generates status information and reports based on the data. The status information and reports can be accessed via a web client to monitor the billing cycle. Additionally, the rule-based engine identifies events in the billing cycle and generates a notification to alert a person if the event is not successfully completed according to a billing schedule. The notification can be accessed via a web client or a wireless communications device. The rule-based engine can subsequently issue an escalated notification to alert another user if the event has not successfully completed at a later time.

Abstract: A system for tracking a billing cycle in a billing system includes a data tracking engine and a rule-based engine. The rule-base engine retrieves information from the billing system during the billing cycle based on a set of rules, and provides the data to the data tracking engine. The data tracking engine generates status information and reports based on the data. The status information and reports can be accessed via a web client to monitor the billing cycle. Additionally, the rule-based engine identifies events in the billing cycle and generates a notification to alert a person if the event is not successfully completed according to a billing schedule. The notification can be accessed via a web client or a wireless communications device. The rule-based engine can subsequently issue an escalated notification to alert another user if the event has not successfully completed at a later time.

Abstract: Methods, data processing apparatus and computer program products for characterising cells and the affect of treatments administered to cells are disclosed. In particular methods of identifying bi-nuclear cells are described which include capturing an image of a plurality of marked cells and processing image to obtain features of the plurality of cells. The features are analyzed to determine whether the feature is indicative of bi-nuclear cells. Those cells for which the first feature is indicative of bi-nuclear cells are identified as being bi-nuclear. Three algorithms in particular are described. A first algorithm can be used to determine the number of nuclei in an image of a nuclear component by determining the number of concave regions within the outline of the image. A second algorithm uses a measure of the amount of cytoplasmic material between a pair of nuclei to identify bi-nuclear cells.

Abstract: A method for calculating distances between stimulus response curves (e.g., dose response curves) allows classification of stimuli. The response curves show how the phenotype of one or more cells changes in response to varying levels of the stimulus. Each “point” on the curve represents quantitative phenotype or signature for cell(s) at a particular level of stimulus (e.g., dose of a therapeutic). The signatures are multivariate phenotypic representations of the cell(s). They include various features of the cell(s) obtained by image analysis. To facilitate the comparison of stimuli, distances between points on the response curves are calculated. First, the response curves may be aligned on a coordinate representing a separate distance, r, from a common point of negative control (e.g., the point where no stimulus is applied). Integration on r may be used to compute the distance between two response curves. The distance between response curves is used to classify stimuli.

Abstract: Image analysis methods and apparatus are used for determination of the ploidy of cells. The methods may involve segmenting an image to identify one or more discrete regions occupied by cells or nuclei, determining the presence of a particular ploidy indicator feature within the region(s), and providing a value of the indicator feature to a model that classifies cells' ploidy on the basis of the indicator feature. In some embodiments, the indicator feature is a level of DNA in a cell. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises treating one or more cells with a marker that highlights the ploidy indicator feature. In certain embodiments, the cells are treated prior to producing one or more images of the one or more cells. In certain embodiments, the ploidy indicator feature comprises DNA and the marker co-locates with DNA and provides a signal that is captured in the image. In certain embodiments, the signal comprises a fluorescent emission.

Abstract: Image analysis methods and apparatus are used for determination of the ploidy of cells. The methods may involve segmenting an image to identify one or more discrete regions occupied by cells or nuclei, determining the presence of a particular ploidy indicator feature within the region(s), and providing a value of the indicator feature to a model that classifies cells' ploidy on the basis of the indicator feature. In some embodiments, the indicator feature is a level of DNA in a cell. In certain embodiments, the method further comprises treating one or more cells with a marker that highlights the ploidy indicator feature. In certain embodiments, the cells are treated prior to producing one or more images of the one or more cells. In certain embodiments, the ploidy indicator feature comprises DNA and the marker co-locates with DNA and provides a signal that is captured in the image. In certain embodiments, the signal comprises a fluorescent emission.

Abstract: A method for calculating distances between stimulus response curves (e.g., dose response curves) allows classification of stimuli. The response curves show how the phenotype of one or more cells changes in response to varying levels of the stimulus. Each “point” on the curve represents quantitative phenotype or signature for cell(s) at a particular level of stimulus (e.g., dose of a therapeutic). The signatures are multivariate phenotypic representations of the cell(s). They include various features of the cell(s) obtained by image analysis. To facilitate the comparison of stimuli, distances between points on the response curves are calculated. First, the response curves may be aligned on a coordinate representing a separate distance, r, from a common point of negative control (e.g., the point where no stimulus is applied). Integration on r may be used to compute the distance between two response curves. The distance between response curves is used to classify stimuli.

Abstract: Image analysis methods analyze images of cells and place the cells in particular cell cycle phases based upon certain features extracted from the images. The methods can also quantify the total amount of DNA in a cell based on specific features such as fluorescence intensity from fluorescent molecules that bind to DNA. Further, the methods can characterize a cell as mitotic or interphase based on chosen parameters such as the variance in intensity observed in a cell image and/or the size of a region containing DNA. In one example, image analysis methods can classify the cell into one of the following five phases: G1, S, G2, telophase, and an early stage mitotic phase comprised of prophase, metaphase, and anaphase.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer programs for investigating and characterising side effects of a treatment having an intended or on-target effect on cells are described. The method can include identifying a group of on-target cellular features of the plurality of cells which are affected by the treatment and are related to the on-target effect. A group of off-target cellular features can also be identified which are different to the on-target cellular features and which are also affected by the treatment and which are related to the side effect. A measure of the side effect based on the off-target cellular features can be obtained. The treatment can then be characterised based on the measure of the side effect. A further method involves capturing an image of the population of treated cells and deriving cellular features from the image.

Abstract: Methods, data processing apparatus and computer program products for characterising cells and the affect of treatments administered to cells are disclosed. In particular methods of identifying bi-nuclear cells are described which include capturing an image of a plurality of marked cells and processing image to obtain features of the plurality of cells. The features are analyzed to determine whether the feature is indicative of bi-nuclear cells. Those cells for which the first feature is indicative of bi-nuclear cells are identified as being bi-nuclear. Three algorithms in particular are described. A first algorithm can be used to determine the number of nuclei in an image of a nuclear component by determining the number of concave regions within the outline of the image. A second algorithm uses a measure of the amount of cytoplasmic material between a pair of nuclei to identify bi-nuclear cells.

Abstract: Image analysis methods analyze images of cells and place the cells in particular cell cycle phases based upon certain features extracted from the images. The methods can also quantify the total amount of DNA in a cell based on specific features such as fluorescence intensity from fluorescent molecules that bind to DNA. Further, the methods can characterize a cell as mitotic or interphase based on chosen parameters such as the variance in intensity observed in a cell image and/or the size of a region containing DNA. In one example, image analysis methods can classify the cell into one of the following five phases: G1, S, G2, telophase, and an early stage mitotic phase comprised of prophase, metaphase, and anaphase.