Chemical Analysis Patents (Class 702/22)
  • Patent number: 7957922
    Abstract: A data logger system utilizing a censor which obtain a plurality of measurements of an environmental parameter and generates a plurality of signals representing such measurements. A processor receives the plurality of signals and produces a table of counts in sequential format. An external prime converter receives the table of sequential counts and converts the same to human readable values representing the environmental parameter measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Inventor: Fred Wu
  • Patent number: 7957908
    Abstract: A system, method and software arrangement are provided that use a fast adaptive multiscale procedure to characterize a random set of points spanning a high dimensional Euclidean space, and concentrated around special lower dimensional subsets. The procedure can be adapted to analyze gene expression data from microarray experiments, and may be applied generally to existing datasets without regard to whether a particular model exists to otherwise describe the dataset. The procedure accordingly can be used for identifying and mathematically isolating stable sets of data points in a given dataset from those in the same dataset that deviate from a stable model under various conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventors: Gilad Lerman, Joseph McQuown, Bud Mishra
  • Publication number: 20110125409
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provides for measuring multi-dimensional sensing information for identification purposes. The identity of one or more substances is determined through analysis of multidimensional data that can include, among others, intrinsic information as well as extrinsic information. The method for identification of a substance comprises utilizing pattern recognition to form descriptors to identify characteristics of the substance. A system and computer program for performing analysis of the multidimensional data are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Chang-Meng B. HSIUNG, Jing LI, Beth MUNOZ, Ajoy K. ROY, Michael G. STEINTHAL, Steven A. SUNSHINE, Michael A. VICIC, Shou-Hua ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20110125412
    Abstract: The present invention provides a remote monitoring system for monitoring the operation of a fluid treatment system and/or the qualities, characteristics, properties, etc., of the fluid being processed or treated by the fluid treatment system. The present invention also relates to carbon nanotube sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Hach Company
    Inventors: Corey Alan SALZER, Charles Scholpp, Russell Martin Young, Michael Mario Carrabba, Vishnu Vardhanan Rajasekharan, Christopher Patrick Fair, Terrance William Fitzgerald, Frank Howland Carpenter, JR., John Edwin Lee
  • Patent number: 7949475
    Abstract: The present invention generates a visual display of metabolomic data compiled by a database and associated processor. More particularly, the present invention provides a database for automatically receiving a three-dimensional spectrometry data set for a group of samples. The present invention also provides a processor device for manipulating the data sets to produce plots that are directly comparable to a plurality of characteristic plots corresponding to a plurality of selected metabolites. Furthermore, the processor device may generate a visual display indicating the presence of the selected metabolites across the group of samples. Thus, the present invention enables a user to analyze a series of complex data sets in a visual display that may indicate the presence of the selected metabolites across the group of samples. Furthermore, the visual display generated by embodiments of the present invention also expedites the subjective analysis of the spectrometry data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Metabolon Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Henry Barrett, Jr., Corey Donald DeHaven, Danny C. Alexander, Sarada Tanikella
  • Patent number: 7947502
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and a kit for calibrating a photoluminescence measurement system, in particular a fluorescence measurement system. The kit includes a number of fluorescence standards i and their corrected and certified fluorescence spectra Ii(?), whereby the fluorescence standards i are selected, so that their spectrally corrected fluorescence spectra Ii(?) cover a broad spectral range with high intensity. The standards are characterized by large half-widths FWHMi of their bands of at least 1400 cm?1. According to the method of the invention, partial correction functions Fi(?) are generated by forming the quotient of the measured fluorescence spectra Ji(?) and the corresponding corrected fluorescence spectra Ii(?), which are then combined to form a total correction function F(?) for a broad spectral range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: Sigma-Aldrich GmbH, BAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und-prüefung
    Inventors: Ute Resch-Genger, Dietmar Pfeifer, Christian Monte, Angelika Hoffmann, Pierre Nording, Bernhard Schönenberger, Katrin Hoffmann, Monika Spieles, Knut Rurack
  • Patent number: 7947486
    Abstract: A method for analyzing nucleic acid obtained from a cell sample on a platform is described. A platform having a cell selector, a nucleic acid selector, and an array of microlocations, wherein at least one microlocation has an associated capture sequence, is provided. The cell selector is contacted with a cell sample, wherein a portion of the cells remain associated with the cell selector. At least a portion of cells associated with the cell selector are lysed to release a nucleic acid sample. The nucleic acid selector is then contacted with the nucleic acid sample, such that a portion of the nucleic acid sample remains associated with the nucleic acid selector. The associated nucleic acid sample is then released from the nucleic acid selector and then is contacted with the array of microlocations, such that at least a portion of the released nucleic acid sample hybridizes with the capture sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Gamida for Life B.V.
    Inventors: Michael J. Heller, Eugene Tu, Glen A. Evans, Ronald G. Sosnowski
  • Patent number: 7949471
    Abstract: A method and a system is disclosed for determining cetane values from constant volume combustion chamber apparatuses capable of producing pressure versus time combustion profiles having a fast combustion region and a slow combustion region, where data from the two regions is used to compute cetane values for middle distillate fluid samples using a series expansion equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Petroleum Analyzer Company, LP
    Inventor: G. Patrick Ritz
  • Patent number: 7949432
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling microbiological activity in a process stream by measuring dissolved oxygen is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Laura E. Rice
  • Patent number: 7949474
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for the knowledge-based discovery and optimization of differences between cell types. In particular, the present invention provides visual servoing optical microscopy, as well as analysis methods. The present invention provides means for the close monitoring of hundreds of individual, living cells over time; quantification of dynamic physiological responses in multiple channels; real-time digital image segmentation and analysis; intelligent, repetitive computer-applied cell stress and cell stimulation; and the ability to return to the same field of cells for long-term studies and observation. The present invention further provides means to optimize culture conditions for specific subpopulations of cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Daniel E. Callahan, Bahram Parvin
  • Publication number: 20110106456
    Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for determining a property of a solid material relating to wettability, and for evaluating chemical additives. A solid particle is positioned at an interface between a lighter fluid phase, such as oil, and a denser fluid phase, such as water. An external force is applied, preferably with a centrifuge, so as to urge the solid particle into the denser fluid phase. An observation is made as to whether the particles has passed through the denser fluid phase, and based on the observation the contact angle is calculated. The calculation is also based on the densities of each fluid phase, of the solid material, the amount of the external force applied, size of the solid material, and interfacial tension between the two phases. The calculation also preferably accounts for two curvatures representing the interface between the first phase and the second phase as deformed by the solid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Geza Horvath Szabo, Dmitry Eskin, Wael Abdallah, Paul Swenson
  • Patent number: 7937250
    Abstract: Non-functional concerns are addressed within an abstract model corresponding to a real-world system. One or more annotations profiles are constructed. Each annotations profile describes one or more annotations, where each annotation corresponds to and represents one of the non-functional concerns. Each of a number of modeling elements of the abstract model is associated with an annotation corresponding to a non-functional concern pertaining to the modeling element. One or more transformation templates are constructed. Each transformation template transforms the abstract model to a specific implementation platform to which the transformation template corresponds. For each transformation template, the abstract model as has been transformed to the specification implementation platform to which the transformation template corresponds is executed. Such execution results in consumption of the non-functional concerns represented by the annotations associated with the modeling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Pankaj Dhoolia, Prashant Jain, Kamal Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 7933720
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a biomolecule bonding using a radio frequency (RF) wireless energy transmission and a method thereof are disclosed. The method includes transmitting RF energy to a sensor module having one or more probe biomolecules immobilized thereon, and determining a first energy charging time of the sensor module, the first energy charging time representing the amount of time for the sensor to be completely charged by the transmitted RF energy, prior to mixing of the one or more probe biomolecules with one or more target sample biomolecules. A second energy charging time of the sensor module is determined, the second energy charging time representing the amount of time for the sensor to be completely charged by the transmitted RF energy, following mixing of the one or more probe biomolecules with one or more target biomolecule sample. A determination of whether biomolecule bonding has occurred is based on a variation of the first and second energy charging times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-sik Park, Young-il Kim, Jung-ho Kang
  • Patent number: 7933719
    Abstract: Diagnostic method, based on the amounts of biogenic amines that are contained in a body fluid or other sample. A number of measured parameters related to the desired diagnostic information are derived from the amounts. For each diagnostic information desired, an input consisting of the identification of the diagnostic information is provided. The input is compared to the measured parameters and a diagnostic response is derived from the comparison. The measured parameters may be derived from the amounts of the biogenic amines according to a program stored in a memory. The detection of the less volatile amines and their separation from the more volatile ones may advantageously be enhanced by successively adding a base and an acid, in either possible succession, to the sample and analyzing the vapors emitted by the sample under heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: 3 Q B D Ltd.
    Inventors: Avraham Lorber, Zeev Karpas
  • Patent number: 7930110
    Abstract: Method for biomass determination in a medium, in particular a medium containing biological cells suspended in a conductive fluid, the biomass concentration (X) being obtained from a difference between a first capacitance signal (C?1) of the medium, measured at a first frequency, and a second capacitance signal (C?2) of the medium, measured at a second frequency. The method includes a separate correction of each of the measured signals, based at least on one correction level, the first correction level including a correction of the signals measured in accordance with a model dependent on the conductance of the medium at the first and second frequencies. The invention is useful in biomass measurement systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Nanotec Solution
    Inventors: Frédéric Ossart, Charles Ghommidh, Geoffrey Esteban
  • Patent number: 7927878
    Abstract: The invention describes a process for the determination of the concentration distribution and size distribution of lipoprotein classes in body fluids, e.g. blood. For this purpose, NMR spectra of a sample to be analysed are measured by magnetic field gradient intensities and temperatures under different diffusion-weighted measuring conditions selected according to different pulse programs (e.g. PFG-STE, PFG-LED etc) and consequently in a differentiated manner according to the relaxation times. The different effects of these measuring conditions on the intensity/line form of the NMR signals of the individual lipoprotein classes are determined and permit the determination of a concentration distribution/size distribution of the individual lipoprotein classes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: LipoFIT Analytic GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Kremer, Hans Robert Kalbitzer, Fritz Huber
  • Publication number: 20110086286
    Abstract: A system and method for maintaining the voltage of fuel cells in the fuel cell stack below a predetermined maximum voltage. The method determines a desired voltage set-point value that defines a predetermined maximum fuel cell voltage value and uses the voltage set-point value and an average fuel cell voltage to generate an error value there-between. The method generates a minimum gross power prediction value using the modified voltage set-point value to prevent the fuel cell voltages from going above the predetermined maximum fuel cell voltage value and generating a supplemental power value based on the minimum gross power prediction value and the error value to determine how much power needs to be drawn from the stack to maintain the fuel cell voltage below the predetermined maximum voltage value. The method uses the supplemental power value to charge the battery or operate an auxiliary load coupled to the stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Sriram Ganapathy, John P. Salvador, Tayoung Choi, Darrell W. Burleigh
  • Publication number: 20110087440
    Abstract: A value document authentication system comprising a value document substrate having a luminescent compound disposed on or in at least a portion of the value document substrate, wherein the luminescent compound (i) comprises a host lattice having at least one metallic ion with magnetic properties and is doped with at least one rare earth ion capable of emitting infrared radiation with at least one distinct infrared wavelength when excited with an exciting light source having sufficient energy to excite emission from the luminescent compound and (ii) has a pre-determined ratio of metallic ions to rare earth ions such that the ratio corresponds to a parameter of a pre-selected decision criteria, both of which properties are measured at the same location on the value document and used to authenticate the value document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Carsten Lau, James Kane, William Ross Rapoport
  • Patent number: 7925448
    Abstract: A method of determining kinetic parameters for a reversible molecular interaction between a ligand immobilized to a solid support surface and a binding partner to the ligand in solution, comprises sequentially, without intermediate regeneration or renewal of the immobilized ligand, flowing a plurality of fluid volumes containing different known concentrations of the binding partner over the solid support surface, monitoring the momentary amount of binding partner bound to the solid support surface related to time and solution concentration of binding partner and collecting the binding data, and determining the kinetic parameters by globally fitting a predetermined kinetic model for the interaction between the binding partner and the immobilized ligand to the collected binding data, which model allows for mass transport limitation at the solid support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventor: Robert Karlsson
  • Patent number: 7925461
    Abstract: A quality control method using a plurality of analyzers and a control device connected to the analyzers via a network, the method comprising: (a) measuring quality control samples by the analyzers; (b) collecting a plurality of quality control data obtained by measuring the quality control samples; (c) implementing a quality control by the control device based on the collected quality control data; (d) obtaining uncertainty of measurement of analyzer based on uncertainty of analyzer calibration and the quality control data; (e) outputting a result of the quality control; and (f) outputting the uncertainty of measurement is disclosed. A quality control system and an analyzer are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sysmex Corporation
    Inventors: Tadayuki Yamaguchi, Atsushi Shirakami, Etsuro Shinkai, Yasuhiro Ochi
  • Patent number: 7920972
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a suite of G2FT and GFT NMR experiments that can be used for complete resonance assignments of proteins and for obtaining structural (conformational and orientational) constraints for determining high resolution three-dimensional structures of biomolecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Thomas A. Szyperski, Hanudatta S. Atreya
  • Publication number: 20110076582
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the maximum allowed stack current limit rate for a fuel cell stack that considers cell voltage. The method includes estimating a fuel cell stack voltage based on a fuel cell resistance value, stack variables and a current request signal. The fuel cell resistance value can be modeled based on stack temperature and stack relative humidity. The stack variables can include exchange current density and mass transfer coefficient. The method then uses the estimated fuel cell voltage and a look-up table based on estimated voltage to determine a current rate limit value for changing the current of the stack. The method then adds the current rate limit value and the current request signal to obtain the current set-point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Yanyan Zhang, Sriram Ganapathy, Loren Devries, Bruce J. Clingerman
  • Patent number: 7917302
    Abstract: Sequence alignment and sequence database similarity searching are among the most important and challenging task in bio informatics, and are used for several purposes, including protein function prediction. An efficient parallelisation of the Smith-Waterman sequence alignment algorithm using parallel processing in the form of SIMD (Single-Instruction, Multiple-Data) technology is presented. The method has been implementation using the MMX (MultiMedia eXtensions) and SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) technology that is embedded in Intel's latest microprocessors, but the method can also be implemented using similar technology existing in other modern microprocessors. Near eight-fold speed-up relative to the fastest previously an optimised eight-way parallel processing approach achieved know non-parallel Smith-Waterman implementation on the same hardware. A speed of about 200 million cell updates per second has been obtained on a single Intel Pentium III 500 MHz microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignees: Torbjorn Rognes, Erling Christen Seeberg
    Inventor: Torbjorn Rognes
  • Patent number: 7917313
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a fluid transfer process, including the steps: providing an allowable pressure profile; detecting a pressure occurring in the course of the fluid transfer process; comparing detected pressure with the allowable pressure profile and signaling an error, if the detected pressure is not within the allowable pressure profile. The allowable pressure profile is defined by interpolation points, the interpolation points being based on a probability function representing a family of pressure courses of a plurality of fluid transfer processes. The allowable pressure profile can be divided into at least two distinct process sections, each section corresponding to a distinct process phase of the fluid transfer process. The probability function is calculated from a family of test pressure curves and reflects the statistical behavior of the pipette system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Roche Molecular Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Guenter Ziegler, Peter Wenzig
  • Patent number: 7917307
    Abstract: In an oil sample analysis calculator (100) for analyzing results of oil samples from an engine, the oil sample analysis calculator (100) includes an input module (110) which receives an input data set (140), a processing module (130) which receives the input data set (140) from the input module (110) and corrects the input data set (140) based on at least one of an amount of oil added to the engine and an amount of oil removed from the engine, and an output module (120) which receives the input data set (140) corrected by the processing module (130) and outputs an output data set (150).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Alstom Transportation Inc.
    Inventor: Donald W. Bolt
  • Publication number: 20110071867
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying green transformation initiatives for an organization use data for analysis, the data including at least one or more industry practice values associated with metrics for determining pollutions from greenhouse gases and organization's values associated with the metrics. One or more components in the organization producing the organization's values that are worse than the industry practice values are identified at least based on the analysis. One or more transformation initiatives are discovered, for instance, using daisy chain analysis technique, for transforming the identified one or more components to at least meet the industry practice values. Benefits associated with the one or more transformation initiatives may be also determined using a calculator module. The one or more components may be transformed by implementing the one or more transformation initiatives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shyh-Kwei Chen, Parijat Dube, Shyam S. Gonella, Genady Grabarnik, Juhnyoung Lee, Jih-Shyr Yih
  • Patent number: 7910877
    Abstract: The present invention provides, inter alia, methods of analyzing mass spectral data based on charge states of analyte ions. In some embodiments, the methods can be used for differential profiling of samples, such as comparing a sample comprising a given compound and a sample comprising metabolites of the same compound. The methods can also be used to identify and isolate biomarkers. Systems for performing the methods, as well as computer-readable media for performing the methods, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David M Horn, Xiangdong Don Li
  • Patent number: 7912653
    Abstract: The compositions, methods and systems of the invention provide nanocrystal taggants for unobtrusive monitoring of objects. Objects can be tagged with nanocrystal taggant compositions for detection of informative invisible emissions on illumination with appropriate excitation wavelengths. Authentication schemes are also provided that takes advantage of the unique emission and absorption characteristics of nanocrystals to create a unique spectral code that is far more difficult to decode and replicate than those previously employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nanosys, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik C. Scher, Stephen A. Empedocles
  • Patent number: 7906758
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a charged particle beam apparatus which employs a scanning electron microscope for sample inspection and defect review. The present invent provides solution of improving imaging resolution by utilizing a field emission cathode tip with a large tip radius, applying a large accelerating voltage across ground potential between the cathode and anode, positioning the beam limit aperture before condenser lens, utilizing condenser lens excitation current to optimize image resolution, applying a high tube bias to shorten electron travel time, adopting and modifying SORIL objective lens to ameliorate aberration at large field of view and under electric drifting and reduce the urgency of water cooling objective lens while operating material analysis. The present invent provides solution of improving throughput by utilizing fast scanning ability of SORIL and providing a large voltage difference between sample and detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventors: John T. Stults, Alfred Greenquist, Alexander Sassi
  • Patent number: 7908092
    Abstract: A method for identifying a chemical substance from a set of output states provided by a chemical sensor array being exposed to the chemical substance, the method including: selecting, with an evaluation circuit, from a set of class descriptions for different chemical substances a first class description and one or more further class descriptions, wherein the first class description is related to a first chemical substance and a further class description is related to a further chemical substance; and estimating, with one or more estimating units, a first likelihood value and one or more further likelihood values, wherein the first likelihood value represents a probability that the set of output states corresponds to the first class description, and a respective further likelihood value represents a probability that the set of output states corresponds to a respective further class description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Kemp
  • Publication number: 20110060426
    Abstract: The present application is directed toward cargo scanning systems having scanners, each arranged to scan a respective object and generate a set of scan data, processors arranged to process each set of scan data to determine whether it meets a predetermined threat condition, workstations, and data management system arranged to direct data that meets the threat condition to one of the workstations for analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventor: Edward James Morton
  • Publication number: 20110060533
    Abstract: A system for characterizing suspended particles in a water treatment facility is disclosed. The system uses an imaging array to take multiple images of the particles in a sample volume. These images are then processed to determine geometrical properties of individual particles in the sample. These geometric properties can then be used to identify properties of the sample volume such as particle volume concentration, particle number concentration, computed particle diameter, gravitational settling velocity, mass concentration, and computed particle volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: ClearCorp
    Inventors: Roger M. Jorden, John W. English, Daniel J. Bodenstein
  • Patent number: 7904251
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for modifying any synthetically generated assay of a whole crude oil or a portion of a whole crude, such as a condensate or resid material, by using measured crude properties. These measured properties are used to adjust the synthesized assay values to obtain a more accurate representation of the unknown hydrocarbon material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Gregory M. Martin, James M. Brown
  • Patent number: 7902497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the lubrication oil content in an exhaust gas mixture comprising the steps of ionizing the exhaust gas mixture by means of an ion source (3), feeding the ions of the exhaust gas mixture to a filter unit (5) which is embodied as a multipole with a connected voltage source, setting a transmission range of the filter unit (5) according to a lubrication oil fraction to be measured, filtering out ions with a specific mass outside the transmission range and feeding the other ions to a measuring device (8) as well as measuring the intensity of the transmitted ions. According to the invention there is provision for the determination of the proportion of the lubrication oil fraction to be measured to be carried out as a global measurement of the intensity of the ions in a step over the transmission range. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method. The invention provides an improvement both in the measuring quality and in the measuring speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventors: Marcus Gohl, Gerhard Matz
  • Publication number: 20110054802
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and method for monitoring and presenting the status of an electrolytic process in an electrolytic cell (1). The arrangement is characterized by a return channel arrangement (8) for transmitting status information, established by the data processing means (7) of a data processing device (6) and describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (1), from the data processing device (6) to an indicator device (9) arranged in connection with the electrolytic cell (1). The indicator device (9) comprises first presentation means (10) for presenting the status information established by the data processing means (7) of the data processing device (6) and describing the status of the electrolytic process in the electrolytic cell (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventors: Ari Rantala, Lauri Nordlund, Jyrki Malinen
  • Publication number: 20110054801
    Abstract: The invention is a detector (15) which comprises: a probe (17) insertable into a drink; processing means (13) coupled to the probe; and an indicator coupled to the processing means; wherein the processing means is configured to receive a signal from the probe and compare said received signal with a stored reference to determine whether a liquid into which said probe is inserted includes a chemical impurity, the processor being configured to operate said indicator in the event that said liquid is determined to include a said chemical impurity. The invention is also a method of detecting a chemical impurity in a liquid of a drink, the method comprising: inserting a probe (17) into the liquid; connecting the probe to a source of electric potential; measuring a response of said liquid; comparing said response to a reference; determining whether a liquid into which said probe is inserted includes a chemical impurity; and indicating that said liquid includes a said chemical impurity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY ENTERPRISES LIMITED
    Inventors: Victoria Hilborne, John King, Roger Brown
  • Patent number: 7897032
    Abstract: A sampling system for measuring the presence and concentration of inorganic ion species, including, metals, metalloids and non-metals, in a liquid solution including a first sampling unit. The first sampling unit includes a potentiometric subsystem configured to gather environmental metrics of the liquid sample, a preparation subsystem, coupled to the potentiometric module, the preparation subsystem being configured to prepare and isolate contaminants of concern in a flow of a liquid sample into metal, metalloid, or non-metal ionic forms; and a voltammetric subsystem selectively coupled to the preparation subsystem, potentiometric subsystem and a sample source, the voltammetric subsystem being configured to identify and determine a concentration of metal, metalloid, or non-metal ionic species through stripping voltammetry. The system is configured to compare a value of a stripping signal of the sample with a predetermined value to determine if dilution of the sample is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Inventors: Elena Viltchinskaia, Peter A. Withers
  • Patent number: 7895024
    Abstract: The relationship between an amino acid sequence of a protein and its three-dimensional structure is at the very core of structural biology and bioinformatics. The occurrence and conservation of non-canonical conformations is a “local” phenomenon, i.e., non-canonical conformations are encoded intra-helically by short peptide sequences (heptapeptides at most). Effective descriptors can be formed for these short sequences employing training sets. Multiple, distinct patterns are created representing these sequences. A composite descriptor is formed by selecting from among the patterns discovered. The composite descriptor has a high level of sensitivity and specificity while, at the same time, a boosted signal-to-noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Isidore Rigoutsos, Peter Riek, Robert M. Graham, Jiri Novotny
  • Publication number: 20110035160
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-channel bio reactor with fluorescence detector which measures various bio-chemical materials using fluorescence analysis, and an on-line monitoring apparatus of it. The multi-channel bio reactor with fluorescence detector comprises a light source 10 for emitting excitation light; a light irradiation part 30 for irradiating the excitation light emitted from the light source 10; a sample receiving part 40 in which the excitation light irradiated from the light irradiation part 30 is irradiated on a sample and which has a plurality of walls 41 for receiving a sample containing a fluorescent material; and an optical detecting part 50 for detecting fluorescence emitted from the sample received in the wall 41 of the sample receiving part 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: INDUSTRY FOUNDATION OF CHONNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jong IL Rhee, Ok-Jae Sohn
  • Patent number: 7885796
    Abstract: A method for executing calculation of the Hartree-Fock method in a molecular orbital method by a distributed memory parallel computing system includes the steps of: using a computer cluster made up of a plurality of computers; dividing a density matrix into multiple density submatrixes and distributing them to the individual computers and storing therein; and executing calculation processes such as two-electron integration or the like relating to density submatrixes in each computer while sequentially transferring the multiple density submatrixes between the multiple computers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Soft, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Takada, Jun-ichi Yamamoto, Kazuto Nakata
  • Patent number: 7885768
    Abstract: A method and systems for locating a source of particles, molecules, or fragments of molecules using particle, molecule, or fragment of molecule reception rate is disclosed. According to the invention, the particle, molecule, or fragment of molecules diffusion parameters in the search space are determined and a lattice is designed on the search space. After having determined whether or not at least one particle, molecule, or fragment of molecule is detected by a sensor, a probability is computed for each node of said search space lattice. The probability associated to each node of the search space lattice corresponds to the probability that the particle, molecule, or fragment of molecule source is located on the node. Then, the move of the sensor is evaluated according to the entropy of the computed probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Massimo Vergassola, Boris Shraiman, Emmanuel Villermaux
  • Patent number: 7884318
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for determining composition of chemical constituents in a complex mixture are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method for determining composition of chemical constituents in a complex mixture includes generating, using a separation tool and a mass spectrometer, separation and mass spectrometry data of a sample, wherein the separation data includes peak information and wherein the mass spectrometry data includes primary and secondary mass spectrometry data. The analysis results, including the generated separation and mass spectrometry data, are collected and stored. A chemical constituent of the sample is determined by comparing the analysis results to a library of information indicating characteristics of chemical entities, where the comparison is based on the separation and mass spectrometry information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Metabolon, Inc.
    Inventors: K. Eric Milgram, Thomas Barrett, Anne M Evans
  • Publication number: 20110029253
    Abstract: Implementations for mobile sampling of one or more target substances are generally disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Seth Adrian Miller
  • Patent number: 7881877
    Abstract: Techniques for determining effects on a biological system include determining rate constants for a particular time interval starting at an initial time. Each rate constant indicates a rate of transition from one of four states to a different one of the four states for a component of a biological system in presence of an external factor. A temporal change in a probability that the component is in a particular state after the initial time is determined without numerical iteration over multiple time steps. This includes determining three relaxation time constants that describe exponential changes based on the rate constants. The effect of the external factor on the biological system is determined based on the temporal change in the probability that the component is in the particular state. The probability at an arbitrary time is determined based on the rate constants and initial probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: University of Maryland, Baltimore
    Inventor: Lawrence Goldman
  • Patent number: 7881918
    Abstract: A profiler which spatially profiles a hydrophobicity distribution for the transmembrane protein based on a scaled hydrophobicity value, includes an identifier for identifying a residue external to a membrane and removing the residue to obtain a truncated structure comprising plural residue side-chains, and a calculator which calculates plural residue centroids for the plural residue side-chains, calculates a distribution of the plural residue centroids, and obtains a geometric center for the distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin David Silverman
  • Publication number: 20110022328
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining an phase spectrum ?(?) of the complex spectral transfer function H(?) of a medium. In some embodiments, the method is applied for detecting or imaging an object screened by scattering medium or for determining a refractive index spectrum of a material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Ariel-University Research And Development Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Er'el Granot, Shmuel Sternklar, Yosef Ben-Aderet
  • Publication number: 20110015871
    Abstract: A system for acquiring environmental data from a plurality of sensors is provided with a microprocessor having a sensor input for receiving data from a sensor, a memory access port for communicating with a memory system, and an output port for issuing data. Plural sensors each produce associated sensor signals responsive to respective characteristics of an environment. The sensor signals are propagated to the sensor input of the microprocessor, and a memory system is coupled to the memory access port of the microprocessor for storing calibration data associated with the plurality of sensors. A communications arrangement is coupled to the output port of the microprocessor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Donald Bruce Nuzzio
  • Patent number: 7871822
    Abstract: A method for selecting at least one catalyst from a catalyst library on the basis of the reactivity thereof in a chemical conversion process includes: (a) testing the catalytic activity of a first catalyst from said catalyst library with respect to a reaction medium containing, as the compounds to be converted, at least one reactivity probe having a labeling system and including at least one reaction unit capable of reacting in said chemical conversion; (b) analyzing the reaction medium after said catalytic test for the purpose of qualitatively and/or qualitatively characterizing the resulting compounds; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for at least one other catalyst in said library; and (d) comparing the analysis results for each catalyst in order to characterize at least one catalyst having the required reactivity in said chemical conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Novalyst Discovery
    Inventors: Alain Wagner, Cédric Catala
  • Publication number: 20110010107
    Abstract: Sensor devices and sensing methods are provided. A sensor device is provided two flow channels, each comprising a sensor, and analyte flow is alternated between the two channels such that the sensors alternately serve as a sensor and a reference, thereby increasing accuracy of the sensors. The device is useful, for example, in chemical sensing using a variety of sensor types including without limitation: chemiresistors, gravimetric sensors, optical sensors, among others. Related sensing methods also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Gary Keith Fedder, Nathan Scott Lazarus
  • Publication number: 20100332145
    Abstract: A neutron detector system for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly into information that a first responder can use to discriminate materials. The system comprises counting neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. The system includes a graphing component that displays the plot of the neutron distribution from the unknown source over a Poisson distribution and a plot of neutrons due to background or environmental sources. The system further includes a known neutron source placed in proximity to the unknown source to actively interrogate the unknown source in order to accentuate differences in neutron emission from the unknown source from Poisson distributions and/or environmental sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Rowland, Neal J. Snyderman