Abstract: A structure-preserving composite model for skin lesion segmentation includes partitioning a dermoscopic image into superpixels at a first scale. Each superpixel is a vertex on a graph defined by color coordinates and spatial coordinates, and represents a number of pixels of the dermoscopic image according to the first scale. Further, constructing a plurality of k background templates by k-means clustering selected ones of the superpixels in space and color. Additionally, generating sparse representations of the plurality of superpixels based on the plurality of background templates. Also, calculating a reconstruction error for each superpixel by comparison of its sparse representation to its original color coordinates and spatial coordinates. Furthermore, outputting a confidence map that identifies each pixel of the dermoscopic image as belonging or not belonging to a skin lesion, based on the reconstruction errors of the representative superpixels.

Abstract: At a sending electronic device, from a remote location, an indication is received of an environment at a receiving mobile electronic device to which the sending electronic device is to send a message. It is determined how to send the message from the sending electronic device to the receiving mobile electronic device, based on the indication of the environment at the receiving mobile electronic device. The message is sent from the sending electronic device to the receiving mobile electronic device in accordance with the determining step.

Abstract: At a sending electronic device, from a remote location, an indication is received of an environment at a receiving mobile electronic device to which the sending electronic device is to send a message. It is determined how to send the message from the sending electronic device to the receiving mobile electronic device, based on the indication of the environment at the receiving mobile electronic device. The message is sent from the sending electronic device to the receiving mobile electronic device in accordance with the determining step.

Abstract: A scan head for scanning skin includes a frame and a camera coupled to the frame. A controllable probe is coupled to the frame and is configured to change an orientation of hair on the skin to be examined and imaged with the camera.

Abstract: A scan head for scanning skin includes a frame and a camera coupled to the frame. A controllable probe is coupled to the frame and is configured to change an orientation of hair on the skin to be examined and imaged with the camera.

Abstract: A method for computer-aided diagnosis of skin lesions includes obtaining a dermoscopic image, convolving the dermoscopic image in a plurality of convolutional layers, obtaining deconvolved outputs of at least two convolutional layers of the plurality of convolutional layers, obtaining side-output feature maps by applying loss functions to the deconvolved outputs of the at least two convolutional layers, obtaining a first concatenated feature map by concatenating the side-output feature maps with different first weights, obtaining a second concatenated feature map by concatenating the side-output feature maps with different second weights, and producing a final score map by convolving the first and second concatenated feature maps in a final convolutional layer followed by a loss layer. Also disclosed: a computer-readable medium embodying instructions for the method, and an apparatus configured to implement the method.

Abstract: A structure-preserving composite model for skin lesion segmentation includes partitioning a dermoscopic image into superpixels at a first scale. Each superpixel is a vertex on a graph defined by color coordinates and spatial coordinates, and represents a number of pixels of the dermoscopic image according to the first scale. Further, constructing a plurality of k background templates by k-means clustering selected ones of the superpixels in space and color. Additionally, generating sparse representations of the plurality of superpixels based on the plurality of background templates. Also, calculating a reconstruction error for each superpixel by comparison of its sparse representation to its original color coordinates and spatial coordinates. Furthermore, outputting a confidence map that identifies each pixel of the dermoscopic image as belonging or not belonging to a skin lesion, based on the reconstruction errors of the representative superpixels.

Abstract: A method for image analysis comprises receiving one or more current images of a lesion from a body of a person, wherein the one or more current images are electronically captured by and transmitted from a capture device, and analyzing the one or more current images, wherein the analyzing comprises performing image processing to compare the one or more current images captured at a first time to one or more previous images of the lesion captured at a second time prior to the first time, and determining at least one difference between the one or more current images and the one or more previous images based on the comparing. The method further comprises determining a probability that the lesion will become diseased based on the analysis, and recommending a time for a future image capture of the lesion and/or a consultation with a practitioner based on the determined probability.

Abstract: A method for risk assessment comprises receiving one or more images of a plurality of lesions captured from a body of a target person, generating one or more digital signatures based on the one or more images from the body of the target person, comparing the generated one or more digital signatures to digital signatures of respective reference persons, wherein the comparing comprises measuring similarities between the generated one or more digital signatures and the digital signatures of the respective reference persons, and determining a risk factor for the target person of developing a disease based on the measured similarities and predetermined risk factors of developing the disease for the reference persons.

Abstract: A method for image analysis comprises receiving one or more images of a plurality of lesions captured from a body of a person, extracting one or more features of the plurality of lesions from the one or more images, analyzing the extracted one or more features, wherein the analyzing comprises determining a distance between at least two lesions with respect to the extracted one or more features, and determining whether any of the plurality of lesions is an outlier based on the analyzing.

Abstract: A method for annotation of skin images includes receiving a plurality of dermatoscopic images. Each of the dermatoscopic includes a region of lesion skin and a region of normal skin. A first convolutional neural network is trained according to an interior of the region of lesion skin using each of the plurality of dermatoscopic images. A second convolutional neural network is trained according to a boundary between the region of lesion skin and the region of normal skin. An additional dermatoscopic image is acquired. The first and second convolutional neural networks are used to identify a region of lesion skin within the acquired additional dermatoscopic image.

Abstract: A result format modifying method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium, include an extracting circuit configured to extract a plurality of format types of a search result conducted by a user, a determining circuit configured to determine user activity based on user data, and a deciding circuit configured to decide a format of the plurality of format types to deliver to the user based on a time interval between a current time and a start time of the user's next activity as determined by the determining circuit.

Abstract: Solar irradiation may be predicted based on input terrestrial sky images comprising cloud images, the terrestrial sky images taken from a plurality of geographic locations by a plurality of devices; for example, wherein the terrestrial sky images are crowd sourced from the plurality of devices. A model may be generated that predicts solar irradiation in a geographic area based on the input terrestrial sky images and the geographic locations from where the terrestrial sky images were taken. A signal representing the solar irradiation predicted by the model is output.

Abstract: Training a machine to provide specialized health care apparatus may include receiving text describing a user's health condition via a user interface. Text may be converted into corresponding medical terms. A database may be searched for a list of health care providers treating health conditions associated with the medical terms. A machine learning model may be built that may include user preference for a predefined set of features associated with the user's health condition and health care provider preference for the predefined set of features in treating the user's health condition. The machine learning model may predict one or more of the health care providers that provide treatment for the user's health condition that matches the user's preference. The machine learning model may be retrained based on one or more of feedback from the user, the health care providers, and updated traits of the users and the health care providers.

Abstract: A method for annotation of skin images includes receiving a plurality of dermatoscopic images. Each of the dermatoscopic includes a region of lesion skin and a region of normal skin. A first convolutional neural network is trained according to an interior of the region of lesion skin using each of the plurality of dermatoscopic images. A second convolutional neural network is trained according to a boundary between the region of lesion skin and the region of normal skin. An additional dermatoscopic image is acquired. The first and second convolutional neural networks are used to identify a region of lesion skin within the acquired additional dermatoscopic image.

Abstract: A method for a cloud-based feedback-driven image training and recognition includes receiving a set of expert annotations of a plurality of training images of a predetermined subject matter, wherein the expert annotations include a clinical diagnosis for each image or region of interest in an image, training one or more classification models from the set of expert annotations, testing the one or more classification models on a plurality of test images that are different from the training images, wherein each classification model yields a clinical diagnosis for each image and a confidence score for that diagnosis, and receiving expert classification result feedback regarding the clinical diagnosis for each image and a confidence score yielded by each classification model.

Abstract: A robust segmentation technique based on multi-layer classification technique to identify the lesion boundary is described. The inventors have discovered a technique based on training several classifiers such that to classify each pixel as lesion versus normal Each classifier is trained on a specific range of image resolutions. Then, for a new test image, the trained classifiers are applied on the image. Then by fusing the prediction results in pixel level a probability map is generated. In the next step, a thresholding method is applied to convert the probability map to a binary mask, which determines a mole border.

Abstract: A structure-preserving composite model for skin lesion segmentation includes partitioning a dermoscopic image into superpixels at a first scale. Each superpixel is a vertex on a graph defined by color coordinates and spatial coordinates, and represents a number of pixels of the dermoscopic image according to the first scale. Further, constructing a plurality of k background templates by k-means clustering selected ones of the superpixels in space and color. Additionally, generating sparse representations of the plurality of superpixels based on the plurality of background templates. Also, calculating a reconstruction error for each superpixel by comparison of its sparse representation to its original color coordinates and spatial coordinates. Furthermore, outputting a confidence map that identifies each pixel of the dermoscopic image as belonging or not belonging to a skin lesion, based on the reconstruction errors of the representative superpixels.

Abstract: Training a machine to provide specialized health care apparatus may include receiving text describing a user's health condition via a user interface. Text may be converted into corresponding medical terms. A database may be searched for a list of health care providers treating health conditions associated with the medical terms. A machine learning model may be built that may include user preference for a predefined set of features associated with the user's health condition and health care provider preference for the predefined set of features in treating the user's health condition. The machine learning model may predict one or more of the health care providers that provide treatment for the user's health condition that matches the user's preference. The machine learning model may be retrained based on one or more of feedback from the user, the health care providers, and updated traits of the users and the health care providers.

Abstract: A robust segmentation technique based on multi-layer classification technique to identify the lesion boundary is described. The inventors have discovered a technique based on training several classifiers such that to classify each pixel as lesion versus normal Each classifier is trained on a specific range of image resolutions. Then, for a new test image, the trained classifiers are applied on the image. Then by fusing the prediction results in pixel level a probability map is generated. In the next step, a thresholding method is applied to convert the probability map to a binary mask, which determines a mole border.