A sample testing device comprises an aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a test sample, a sample collector for collecting aerosol particles within a desired size range, and a sample analyzer for determining chemical composition of the collected aerosol particles. The sample testing device may be used to conduct an integrated orthonasal/retronasal flavor analysis for a food product or beverage.

The present application provides for use of a somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) during the hyperacute stroke phase as marker for predicting the outcome of endovascular treatment in a patient suffering from acute ischemic stroke, wherein when the SEP ipsilateral to the stroke site has an amplitude from 60% to 100% with respect to the corresponding SEP contralateral to the stroke site this is indicative of good outcome of the endovascular treatment, whereas when the SEP ipsilateral to the stroke site has an amplitude from 0% to 20% with respect to the corresponding SEP contralateral to the stroke site this is indicative of bad outcome of the endovascular treatment.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for characterizing a behavior change of a process. A behavior model that can include a set of behavior parameters can be generated based on behavior data characterizing a prior behavior change of a process. A stimulus parameter for a performance test can be determined based on the set of behavior parameters. An application of the performance test to the process can be controlled based on the stimulus parameter to provide a measure of behavior change of the process. Response data characterizing one or more responses associated with the process during the performance test can be received. The set of behavior parameters can be updated based on the response data to update the behavior model characterizing the behavior change of the process. In some examples, the behavior model can be evaluated to improve or affect a future behavior performance of the process.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to specify a search start position of a matrix representing inter-regional connectivity between a plurality of regions in a brain based on a result of an analysis on an image of a subject and an attention degree set to each of the regions. The processing circuitry is configured to search the matrix using the search start position.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for management of brain and body functions and sensory perception. For example, the present invention provides systems and methods of sensory substitution and sensory enhancement (augmentation) as well as motor control enhancement. The present invention also provides systems and methods of treating diseases and conditions, as well as providing enhanced physical and mental health and performance through sensory substitution, sensory enhancement, and related effects.

A method for evaluating hearing of a user comprising: generating a baseline hearing profile for the user comprising a set of gain values based on a volume setting, each gain value in the set of gain values corresponding to a frequency band in a set of frequency bands; accessing a soundbite comprising a phrase characterized by a frequency spectrum predominantly within one frequency band; playing the soundbite amplified by a first gain in the frequency band; playing the soundbite amplified by a second gain in the frequency band; receiving a preference input representing a preference of the user from amongst the soundbite amplified by the first gain and the soundbite amplified by the second; and modifying a gain value, corresponding to the frequency band, in the baseline hearing profile based on the preference input to generate a refined hearing profile compensating for hearing deficiency of the user.

Disclosed is a pain detection system and method. Preferred methods include capturing imaging data from patient using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. In methods of the invention, pain may be assessed from a non-responsive patient. Preferred methods may further include measuring hemodynamic parameters using the optical imaging data and averaging the measured hemodynamic parameters to reduce background noise. Additionally, a pattern in the averaged hemodynamic parameters is identified and the pattern is compared to a predetermined associated with patient pain. The method further includes detecting, by the processor, a similarity between the pattern and the predetermined pattern and outputting a signal indicating patient pain.

Speech understanding in the presence of background noise can be assessed using novel hearing tests. One such test is a Masking Level Difference with Digits (MLDD) test, which is a clinical tool designed to measure auditory factors that influence the understanding of speech presented within a background of noise. The MLDD test can be used clinically to facilitate a determination of functional hearing. The MLDD test presents background noise using both monotic and diotic conditions.

The present disclosure provides a method of reducing phantom limb pain or diabetic neuropathy pain, and increasing prosthetic control, by stimulating dorsal spinal rootlets and/or lateral spinal cord adjacent to the dorsal rootlets, of sensory neurons innervating the limb with the phantom limb pain or diabetic neuropathy pain, or the prosthetic.

A method for evaluating hearing of a user comprising: generating a baseline hearing profile for the user comprising a set of gain values based on a volume setting, each gain value in the set of gain values corresponding to a frequency band in a set of frequency bands; accessing a soundbite comprising a phrase characterized by a frequency spectrum predominantly within one frequency band; playing the soundbite amplified by a first gain in the frequency band; playing the soundbite amplified by a second gain in the frequency band; receiving a preference input representing a preference of the user from amongst the soundbite amplified by the first gain and the soundbite amplified by the second; and modifying a gain value, corresponding to the frequency band, in the baseline hearing profile based on the preference input to generate a refined hearing profile compensating for hearing deficiency of the user.