Abstract: Methods and systems of quantifying a target material in solution include detection of a size change of a hybridized nanoparticle. In particular, the examples include functionalizing a plurality of nanoparticles to adapt the nanoparticles to hybridize with a species-specific target material, measuring the size of the functionalized nanoparticles to predetermine a standard distribution of non-hybridized nanoparticles, introducing the functionalized nanoparticles in a solution containing species-specific target materials and/or non-target materials, and hybridizing the functionalized nanoparticles with the species-specific target material if present in the solution. The size of the nanoparticles in solution are then measured after hybridization, and the presence or non-presence of the species-specific target material is detected and/or quantified by comparing the measured size of the nanoparticles after hybridization to the standard distribution of non-hybridized nanoparticles.

Abstract: Methods and systems of quantifying a target material in solution include detection of a size change of a hybridized nucleic acid complex, without the use of nanobeads. In particular, the examples include providing a plurality of nucleic acid fragments and a species-specific oligonucleotide tags, measuring the size of the nucleic acid fragments and/or oligonucleotides to predetermine a standard distribution of the solution(s), introducing the oligonucleotides in a solution containing nucleic acid target materials and/or non-target materials, and hybridizing the oligonucleotides with the species-specific target material if present in the solution. The size of the nucleic acid complexes in solution are then measured after hybridization, and the presence or non-presence of the species-specific target material is detected and/or quantified by comparing the measured size of the nucleic acid complexes after hybridization to the standard distribution.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining suspended particle information includes an optical array to divide light to a first path and a second path, a platform to orient a first and second container with either the first or second path, and a first and second photodetector to receive at least a direct illuminating component of the light of the first and second path after said light penetrates through the first and second container. A detector interface receives transmission signals from the first and second photodetectors of the direct illuminating component of the light after penetrating through the first and second container and a calculation engine computes the particle information based on a ratio of the received transmission signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining suspended particle information includes an optical array to divide light to a first path and a second path, a platform to orient a first and second container with either the first or second path, and a first and second photodetector to receive at least a direct illuminating component of the light of the first and second path after said light penetrates through the first and second container. A detector interface receives transmission signals from the first and second photodetectors of the direct illuminating component of the light after penetrating through the first and second container and a calculation engine computes the particle information based on a ratio of the received transmission signals.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for obtaining suspended particle information are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes emitting light from a light source, dividing the light source into a first path and a second path, and directing the first path to a first container comprising a plurality of particles in a suspension material. The example method also includes directing the second path to a second container containing a suspension material devoid of particles, retrieving a first transmission value of the first path through the first container, and retrieving a second transmission value of the second path through the second container.

Abstract: Methods and systems of quantifying a target material in solution include detection of a size change of a hybridized nucleic acid complex, without the use of nanobeads. In particular, the examples include providing a plurality of nucleic acid fragments and a species-specific oligonucleotide tags, measuring the size of the nucleic acid fragments and/or oligonucleotides to predetermine a standard distribution of the solution(s), introducing the oligonucleotides in a solution containing nucleic acid target materials and/or non-target materials, and hybridizing the oligonucleotides with the species-specific target material if present in the solution. The size of the nucleic acid complexes in solution are then measured after hybridization, and the presence or non-presence of the species-specific target material is detected and/or quantified by comparing the measured size of the nucleic acid complexes after hybridization to the standard distribution.

Abstract: Methods and systems of quantifying a target material in solution include detection of a size change of a hybridized nanoparticle. In particular, the examples include functionalizing a plurality of nanoparticles to adapt the nanoparticles to hybridize with a species-specific target material, measuring the size of the functionalized nanoparticles to predetermine a standard distribution of non-hybridized nanoparticles, introducing the functionalized nanoparticles in a solution containing species-specific target materials and/or non-target materials, and hybridizing the functionalized nanoparticles with the species-specific target material if present in the solution. The size of the nanoparticles in solution are then measured after hybridization, and the presence or non-presence of the species-specific target material is detected and/or quantified by comparing the measured size of the nanoparticles after hybridization to the standard distribution of non-hybridized nanoparticles.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for obtaining suspended particle information are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes emitting light from a light source, dividing the light source into a first path and a second path, and directing the first path to a first container comprising a plurality of particles in a suspension material. The example method also includes directing the second path to a second container containing a suspension material devoid of particles, retrieving a first transmission value of the first path through the first container, and retrieving a second transmission value of the second path through the second container.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for obtaining suspended particle information are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes emitting light from a light source, dividing the light source into a first path and a second path, and directing the first path to a first container comprising a plurality of particles in a suspension material. The example method also includes directing the second path to a second container containing a suspension material devoid of particles, retrieving a first transmission value of the first path through the first container, and retrieving a second transmission value of the second path through the second container.

Abstract: Example methods and apparatus for obtaining suspended particle information are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes emitting light from a light source, dividing the light source into a first path and a second path, and directing the first path to a first container comprising a plurality of particles in a suspension material. The example method also includes directing the second path to a second container containing a suspension material devoid of particles, retrieving a first transmission value of the first path through the first container, and retrieving a second transmission value of the second path through the second container.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recognizing written items including characters and symbols is disclosed. A scanner is utilized for scanning the characters and symbols. A recognition module is used to confidently identify the scanned characters and symbols. The recognition module includes a mechanism for recognizing characters. This mechanism includes a character recognition rule base which yields identified characters and unidentified characters. The unidentified characters are conveyed to neural networks for recognition. The recognition module also includes a mechanism for recognizing symbols. This mechanism includes a symbol recognition rule base which yields identified symbols and unidentified symbols. The unidentified symbols are conveyed to neural networks for recognition. The recognition module also includes a mechanism for context processing of the characters and symbols. The context processor utilizes a multilevel blackboard with a number of ascending levels.