1. A system for determining a noise region, comprising:
a data collection module, the data collection module being configured to receive at least one amplification profile comprising a plurality of data points associated with an amplification reaction; and
a data processing module, the data processing module being configured to:
identify an initial noise region corresponding to a subset of a plurality of data points of at least one amplification profile associated with an amplification reaction;
generate a baseline for the initial noise region by performing a regression analysis on the subset of data points;
subtract the baseline from the at least one amplification profile to generate an adjusted data set;
analyzing the adjusted data set to identify a boundary of the noise region; and
identify a noise region end point along the boundary of the noise region.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the noise region end point comprises a commencement point of an exponential region of the at least one amplification profile.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein analyzing the adjusted data set comprises performing a serial monotonicity analysis using the adjusted data set.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the serial monotonicity analysis comprises:
selecting a monotonic run number defining a minimum number of data points which must sequentially increase over a selected interval;
evaluating the at least one amplification profile to identify a string of data points having a length at least as long as the monotonic run number; and
designating a first data point of the string to correspond to the noise region end point.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the monotonic run number is preselected.
6. The system of claim 4, wherein the monotonic run number is at least about 7.
7. The system of claim 4, further comprising flagging an amplification profile not containing a monotonically increasing string of data at least as long as the monotonic run number as non-optimal.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processing module is further configured to perform a best-fit analysis on the noise region defined by the noise region end point to generate an adjusted baseline.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data processing module is further configured to assess the baseline to determine if the subset of data points contains non-uniform data.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the noise region comprises an interval between approximately 0 and 20 cycles of the at least one amplification profile.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one amplification profile comprises a plurality of amplification profiles.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the amplification reaction comprises a polymerase chain reaction.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An improved self-developing film unit adapted to be exposed and then processed to form a visible image in an area thereof by moving said film unit relative to and between pressure applying rollers to distribute a processing fluid with said film unit toward a trailing end thereof, said film unit comprising:
a) an image recording means of the self-developing type including a first and second overlying layer one of which is exposable to form a latent photographic image;
said image recording means comprises a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer in overlying and coextensive relationship to said photosensitive layer; said image receiving layer and said photosensitive layer being of the integral diffusion transfer type;
b) a processing fluid supply means including a rupturable reservoir of processing fluid at a leading end portion of said film unit so as to discharge said processing fluid for distribution between said first and second overlying layers;
c) a spacer means connected to and between said first and second overlying layers for providing a processing space therebetween for allowing processing fluid to pass therethrough, said spacer means comprises a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel elongated rails coextensive with and adjacent opposed marginal edges of said layers;
d) a fluid trap means at said trailing end portion of said film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through said processing space;
e) a mask adhered to an outer surface of said first overlying layer, said mask having an aperture therein defining an image area, said mask extending over and around the leading edge of said film unit adjacent said fluid trap means and over and around the trailing end of said film unit adjacent said fluid trap means; and
f) a substantially zero gap zone created at said leading end by juxtaposedly disposing one or more material strips between said first and second overlying layers, said strips running substantially parallel with said fluid supply means and also interposed between said fluid supply means and said image area; whereby said zero gap zone provides a substantially full width contact of the film surface with said pressure applying spread rollers applied across said film surface, whereby further ensuring uniform flow of the processing fluid during the spreading process.
2. The film unit of claim 1 wherein said material strips are comprised of at least an adhesive layer.
3. The film unit of claim 1 wherein said zero gap zones are created at both the leading and trailing ends of said film unit.
4. The film unit of claim 2 wherein said adhesive layer is jump tape.
5. The film unit of claim 4 wherein said jump tape is notched.
6. An improved self-developing film unit adapted to be exposed and then processed to form a visible image in an area thereof by moving said film unit relative to and between pressure applying rollers to distribute a processing fluid with said film unit toward a trailing end therof, said film unit comprising:
a) an image recording means of the self-developing type including a first and second overlying layer one of which is exposable to form a latent photographic image;
said image recording means comprises a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer in overlying and coextensive relationship to said photosensitive layer; said image receiving layer and said photosensitive layer being of the integral diffusion transfer type;
b) a processing fluid supply means including a rupturable reservoir of processing fluid at a leading end portion of said film unit so as to discharge said processing fluid for distribution between said first and second overlying layers;
c) spacer means connected to and between said first and second overlying layers for providing a processing space therebetween for allowing processing fluid to pass therethrough, said spacer means comprises a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel elongated rails coextensive with and adjacent opposed marginal edges of said layers;
d) a fluid trap means at said trailing end portion of said film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through said processing space;
e) a first fluid-tight coupling means including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling said reservoir to a leading end of said processing space for allowing processing fluid from a ruptured reservoir to be introduced into said processing space and initiated processing of the latent image;
f) a second fluid-tight coupling means including a fluid passage for fluidically coupling a trailing end of said processing space with said trap means for allowing processing fluid to enter into said trap means;
g) said first coupling means having one end portion sealably secured to an exterior surface of said reservoir and a second end portion sealably secured to an interior surface of a leading end portion of said image recording means;
h) said second coupling means having an end portion sealably secured to and within the trailing end portion of said image recording means and an opposite end portion sealably secured to an exteerior surface of said trap means; wherein each of said first and second fluid-tight coupling means is made of a pair of resiliently flexible sheets which are sealably joined together to define the respective fluid passages and which are made of a foldable and rollable material to thereby facilitate folding and unfolding thereof as well as permit rolling action of the fold during folding of the film unit; wherein the combined thickness of each of said sheets is generally equal to a thickness of one of said rails; and
i) a substantially zero gap zone created at said leading end by juxtaposedly disposing one or more material strips between said first and second overlying layers, said strips running substantially parallel with said fluid supply means and also interposed between said fluid supply means and said image area; whereby said zero gap zone provides a substantially full width contact of the film surface with said pressure applying rollers applied across said film surface, whereby further ensuring uniform flow of the processing fluid during the spreading process.
7. A method of manufacturing an improved self-developing film unit adapted to be exposed and then processed to form a visible image in an area thereof by moving said film unit relative to and between pressure applying rollers to distribute a processing fluid with said film unit toward a trailing end therof, said method comprising the steps of:
a) providing an image recording means of the self-developing type including a first and second overlying layer one of which is exposable to form a latent photographic image;
said image recording means comprises a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer in overlying and coextensive relationship to said photosensitive layer; said image receiving layer and said photosensitive layer being of the integral diffusion transfer type;
b) providing a processing fluid supply means including a rupturable reservoir of processing fluid at a leading end portion of said film unit so as to discharge said processing fluid for distribution between said first and second overlying layers;
c) providing spacer means connected to and between said first and second overlying layers for providing a processing space therebetween for allowing processing fluid to pass therethrough, said spacer means comprises a pair of spaced apart and generally parallel elongated rails coextensive with and adjacent opposed marginal edges of said layers;
d) providing a fluid trap means at said trailing end portion of said film unit for collecting excess processing fluid traveling through said processing space;
e) providing a mask adhered to an outer surface of said first overlying layer, said mask having an aperture therein defining an image area, said mask extending over and around the leading edge of said film unit adjacent said fluid trap means and over and around the trailing end of said film unit adjacent said fluid trap means; and
f) creating a substantially zero gap zone created at said leading end by juxtaposedly disposing one or more material strips between said first and second overlying layers, said strips running substantially parallel with said fluid supply means and also interposed between said fluid supply means and said image area; whereby said zero gap zone provides a substantially full width contact of the film surface with said pressure applying rollers applied across said film surface, whereby further ensuring uniform flow of the processing fluid during the spreading process.