Abstract: By extracting clinical data of any format from respective different sources, a data repository normalized to a generic format is created. A medical domain specific language may be used to interact with the data repository for identifying cohorts and gaps in care for the respective cohorts. Any rules for finding gaps in care are converted into the medical domain specific language for determining gaps. This standardization in both the data repository and rule application may allow for a true cost and time to value solution accessible to many different medical practices.

Abstract: Medical related quality of care information is extracted and edited for reporting. Patient records are mined. The mining may include mining unstructured data to create structured information. Measures are derived automatically from the structured information. A user may then edit the measures, data points used to derive the measures, or other quality metric based on expert review. The editing may allow for a better quality report. Tools may be provided to configure reports, allowing generation of new or different reports.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of decalcification and tissue sample preparation that allows for the reproducible quantitative analysis of gene expression in hard tissue samples like bone, mineralizing cartilage and tendon, dentin, cementum and/or enamel that are too hard to section effectively using conventional means.

Abstract: A method of identifying information in electronic medical records includes receiving one or more electronic medical records extracted from at least one source. Each of the one or more electronic medical records has medical information of at least one medical patient. The method also includes analyzing, via a processor, the medical information by comparing different portions of data in the medical information. The method further includes identifying, via the processor, at least one of: (i) the different portions of data in the medical information as inconsistent data; and (ii) the different portions of the data in the medical information as duplicate data.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a recording medium that includes both i) coordinates that are interoperable with a computerized satellite-based geographical positioning system and usable by that system to determine multiple geographical positions corresponding to a parcel of real estate and ii) other descriptive information corresponding to the parcel, such as photographs, written narrative descriptions, a property name or parcel number, or terms of a proposed transaction involving the parcel. Particular embodiments of the recording medium and uses therefor, such as in facilitating real estate transactions and communicating property descriptions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for protecting individual privacy (e.g., patient privacy) when individual data records (e.g., patient data records) are shared between various entities (e.g., healthcare entities). In one aspect, systems and methods are provided which implement secured key encryption for de-identifying patient data to ensure patient privacy, while allowing only the owners of the patient data and/or legally empowered entities to re-identify subject patients associated with de-identified patient data records, when needed.

Abstract: Improvements in mining information from patient records and/or use of such mined information are provided. The identity of the patient is used to link to patient records at different institutions for mining. The user controls one or more thresholds for mining and/or inferring. By providing a user interface that allows selection of a portion of the statistical summary, data supporting the statistics may be output. To assist in understanding the knowledge base used for mining or inferring, a visual representation is output. The mining may be used for diagnosis related groupings.

Abstract: Medical or other data is de-identified by obfuscation. Located instances are replaced. By replacing with values in a same format and level of generality, multiple possible identifications—the replacement values and the instances not located—are provided in the data, obfuscating the original identification. By replacing as a function of a probability, the resulting data set has different instances distributed in a way making identification of the actual or original instances not located by searching more difficult.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing database access for record linkage by tiling the space of record pairs are provided, the system including a processor, a segmentation and pairing unit in signal communication with the processor for segmenting database data into data segments and pairing the data segments into data quadrants, and a duplicate detection unit in signal communication with the processor for detecting duplicates for each quadrant; and the method including receiving database data, segmenting the database data into data segments, pairing the data segments into data quadrants, and detecting duplicates for each quadrant.

Abstract: A business management method with interaction between an electrical energy supplier and a plurality of customer energy consumers includes the consumers providing respective electricity load profiles to the energy supplier. The method also includes the energy supplier aggregating the respective projected electricity load profiles. The method further includes the energy supplier making decisions based on the respective projected electricity load profiles on any of the consumers bidding on additional power, offering excess power on energy exchanges, and offering specials discounts to favored consumers. The method is likewise applicable to other commodities such as a water supply, fuel gas supply, or the like.

Abstract: Medical related quality of care information is extracted and edited for reporting. Patient records are mined. The mining may include mining unstructured data to create structured information. Measures are derived automatically from the structured information. A user may then edit the measures, data points used to derive the measures, or other quality metric based on expert review. The editing may allow for a better quality report. Tools may be provided to configure reports, allowing generation of new or different reports.

Abstract: A method for generating blocking filters for record linkage includes providing a training database and an initial filter comprising a set of blocking keys, generating a set of positive training examples from said training database using said initial blocking keys and a given scoring method, generating from said positive training examples one or more acceptable blocking filters with a high recall with respect to said training examples, estimating a reduction rate of each of said acceptable filters, and selecting those acceptable filters with the reduction rates that exceed a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for data sensitive filtering in patient database searches includes providing a search criteria comprising one or more search locator fields, determining a retrieval formula from said search criteria that maximizes error tolerance in said search criteria while satisfying a predefined response time requirement, retrieving said candidate records from said database, wherein if no retrieval formula can be found to satisfies said response time requirements, requesting additional search criteria, scoring each said candidate record by comparing a search criteria locator field with a corresponding retrieved record field, determining whether said score of said candidate record exceeds a predefined threshold, and if said candidate score does exceed said threshold, adding said candidate record to a list of records to be returned in response to said search criteria.

Abstract: Improvements in mining information from patient records and/or use of such mined information are provided. A scheduled appointment is identified. In response, the patient record is mined to identify any possible lack of adherence. A form requiring authorization and including a clinical action or prescription is generated to address, at least in part, the lack of adherence. Contact with a patient is initiated by a processor, at least in part, in response to a lack of adherence. A request for documentation is generated in response to mining indicating an inadequate probability of adherence to a guideline. During real-time, additional information to be obtained which may alter a probability is suggested.

Abstract: A business management method for remote detection of anomalies with interaction between an electric distribution company and a plurality of customer energy consumers with respective electric metering systems, comprises the steps of: the consumers providing respective metering system data to the electric distribution company; the electric distribution company monitoring the respective electric metering system data; the electric distribution company monitoring for anomalies in the data; the electric distribution company performing remote online diagnostics upon detection of an anomaly; upon a finding that the electric metering system of a respective customer energy consumer is functioning properly, the electric distribution company notifies the respective customer energy consumer; and upon a finding that the electric metering system of a respective customer energy consumer is not functioning properly, the electric distribution company schedules a repair visit with the respective customer energy consumer.

Abstract: A dual mode lesion formation apparatus including a probe component and clamp component.

Abstract: A method for probabilistic record linkage includes providing a record pair comprising a plurality of fields, providing a plurality of scenarios, each scenario relating to a distribution of patterns among a plurality of attribute statuses, and comparing the record pair to determine a record difference. The method includes determining a probability of a status for each of a plurality of attributes based on the distance metric of the plurality of fields, wherein each field corresponds to a respective attribute, wherein the field is observable and the attribute is hidden, determining a probability of each scenario based on the probability of the status for each attribute and the Bayesian net representing the probabilistic model on the relationship between scenarios and attributes, and outputting a probability of duplication or non-duplication of the record pair determined from the probabilities of the plurality of scenarios.

Abstract: An optical inspection system is for visually inspecting the blades of a turbine at turning gear operation. The inspection system includes an imager for capturing images of the blades, an optical passage coupled to the imager and structured to provide maximum viewing area of the blades through an inspection port in the turbine and an illuminating assembly adapted to illuminate the blades while the imager captures images thereof. A method wherein the captured blade images are inspected for blade defects, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining a blocking key includes selecting, randomly, a plurality of record pairs from a pair space that can be formed from a plurality of records of a database, scoring the plurality of record pairs, and comparing a score of each of the plurality of record pairs to a threshold to determine a label for each record pair. The method further includes comparing, character-by-character, each field of each of the plurality of record pairs, wherein a result of the comparison is a binary vector entered in a binary vector matrix, and determining a blocking key based on the binary vector matrix.

Abstract: A system and method for optimizing database access for record linkage by tiling the space of record pairs are provided, the system including a processor, a segmentation and pairing unit in signal communication with the processor for segmenting database data into data segments and pairing the data segments into data quadrants, and a duplicate detection unit in signal communication with the processor for detecting duplicates for each quadrant; and the method including receiving database data, segmenting the database data into data segments, pairing the data segments into data quadrants, and detecting duplicates for each quadrant.