Abstract:
A real-time system for determining the geographic movements of an individual or object by sampling particulates contained thereon. The system includes particle collection, sample preparations, and sample analysis using three primary modes of detecting certain particulates. The first mode involves the imaging of pollen, spores, or other biological material which are visible through a light microscope when properly stained or prepared. The second mode involves the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction to amplify and detect target nucleic acid sequences. The third mode involves the use of X-ray diffraction to identify mineral particles. The results from any mode, or any combination of modes, are analyzed by comparison to a reference database containing geographic information and the results are compiled by a controller for visual display.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/518,109, filed on Nov. 7, 2003 and entitled “Physical Geolocation System.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to the verification of geographic location information and, more specifically, to a system for determining the geographic travel history of an object or individual based on an analysis of particulates contained thereon.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Prior Art  
         [0005]     As worldwide commerce and travel continues to expand, there is an increased need to determine the geographic travel history of an individual or object that crosses geographic, political, or national borders. Determining the international transit of persons and/or objects can be important for the purposes of maintaining security, insuring the safety of food shipments and agricultural products, or merely verifying the authenticity of travel documents and shipping records.  
         [0006]     Conventional particulate analysis involves the manual collection of particulates and analysis by skilled technicians using a light microscope of other analytical techniques. This process requires days to implement and results in the distribution of outdated information.  
         [0007]     3. Objects and Advantages  
         [0008]     It is a principal object and advantage of the present invention to provide a system for determining the geographic travel history of an individual or object that uses objective measurements.  
         [0009]     It is an additional object and advantage of the present invention to provide a system for determining the geographic travel history of an individual or object that relies on stable and tenacious data sources.  
         [0010]     It is a further object and advantage of the present invention to provide a system for determining the geographic travel history of an individual or object that relies on data sources that are otherwise unnoticed.  
         [0011]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention is a geographic location system comprising the collection of microscopic particulates deposited on or entrapped in an individual or object when moving through a geographic region and the analysis of the microscopic particulates to determine which geographic regions the individual or object has contacted. The microscopic particulates can comprise pollen, fungal spores, soil/clay minerals, or DNA-bearing organisms that vary based on geographic locale. These particulates are generally distributed in the atmosphere, stable, and readily adhere to individuals or objects. As different regions produce varying pollens, spores, and minerals, geographic information about an individual or object may be gleaned from the particular types of particulates. Additionally, as pollen and spore types can vary seasonally, temporal information may also be extracted from an analysis of embedded particulates to build a comprehensive travel history.  
         [0013]     The geographical location system comprises the use of some or all of a series of operative modules: a particle collection module, a sample preparation module, an image analysis module, a DNA analysis module, an X-ray diffraction (XRD) module, a controller module, and a database module. One, two, or all three of the analytical modules can be used to achieve geolocation. The data extracted from these various modules is compared against a Physical Geolocation System database having pollen/spore images, DNA sequences, and XRD spacing for various particles, as well as information on geographic distribution necessary for developing a travel history.  
         [0014]     The particle collection module comprises a high volume air sampler that generates an aqueous suspension of collected particles in a given air sample. The air sample can be ambient air, air in a confined space (such as a shipping container, tractor trailer, or piece of luggage), or air passed over a person or object. Instead of an air sampler, the particle collection module may comprise the use of a sterile swab or implement to collect particulates from the surface of an object or person. The particles from the swab may then be placed in an aqueous solution for further processing.  
         [0015]     The liquid sample generated by the particle collection module is passed to the sample preparation module, which divides the sample into sub-samples and treats it for analysis by the various analysis modules. For example, a sub-sample destined for image analysis will be treated with dyes, a sub-sample destined for DNA analysis will be purified and have target DNA isolated. One sub-sample may be archived for later analysis or re-analysis if necessary.  
         [0016]     The image analysis module comprises an automatic microscope system including a microscope, automatic motorized stage, charged-coupled device (CCD) camera, and controller. The image analysis module automatically acquires images of pollen and spores for comparison to the image database. The image analysis module passes pollen and/or spore identification to the controller.  
         [0017]     The DNA analysis module comprises a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system for evaluation of the sample through rational PCR primer and probe combinations that target  18 S ribosomal genes or other discriminatory genes. Other DNA analytical approaches (e.g., real time Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis) may be incorporated as they become available. The DNA analysis module passes plant/fungi identification information to the controller.  
         [0018]     The XRD module comprises a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) scanning XRD device for providing rapid, high-definition diffraction spacings of the sample. The spacings are compared to a source database to determine mineral composition and then screened against worldwide soil mineralogy databases. The XRD module passes soil identification to the controller module.  
         [0019]     The controller module coordinates, collects, interprets, and displays the information provided by the forgoing modules. The information may be displayed as a map of areas consistent with the analyses, as well as text describing the types of pollen, spores, and minerals and statistical confidence values. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a physical geolocation system according to the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a physical geolocation system display according to the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a real-time monitoring system according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0023]     Referring now to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in  FIG. 1 a  physical geolocation system  10  according to the present invention for rapidly collecting and analyzing particulates collected from a person or object. System  10  comprises a particle collection module  12  for physically collecting particles from a target individual or object, such as a shipping container, piece of luggage, or agricultural product. Particle collection module  12  includes a high volume air sampler for generating an aqueous suspension of collected particles from a given air sample. The air sample taken can be ambient air, air in a confined space (such as a shipping container, tractor trailer, or piece of luggage), or air passed over a person or object. Acceptable samplers include the SpinCon of Sceptor Industries and the M-Vac of Rocky Mountain Labs. Particle collection module  12  may also comprise a sterile swab or implement for collecting the particulates from the surface of a person or object. The particles from the swab may then be placed in an aqueous solution for further processing according to the present invention.  
         [0024]     The liquid sample  14  generated by particle collection module  12  is then preferably distributed robotically by a fluid handling module  16  to a sample preparation module  18  for ensuring sample integrity and minimizing cross-contamination. A Gilson Multiple Probe 215 Liquid Handler may serve as fluid handling module  16 .  
         [0025]     Sample preparation module  18  is responsible for preparing sample  14  for each of the primary forms of analysis used to screen for particles having biological and geological (i.e., soil) significance. Liquid sample  14  is separated by sample preparation module  18  into sub-samples  20 ,  22 , and  24  for individual analysis by an image analysis module  26 , a DNA analysis module  28 , and an XRD module  30 . For example, sub-sample  20  is treated with dyes to enhance imaging, sub-sample  22  is treated to isolate and purify and DNA contained therein, and sub-sample  24  is prepared for x-ray diffraction.  
         [0026]     Additional sub-samples (not shown) may be archived for delayed analysis or analysis by other methods, or even for re-analysis if necessary. To eliminate cross-sample contamination, system  10  handles all samples and sub-sample as discrete units; all sample collection and processing is done via robotic transfer of these discrete units, and all modules maintain sample integrity. An acceptable sample preparation module  18  is the Cyberlab C-400 system, manufactured by Gilson, Inc. of Middleton, Wis.  
         [0027]     After treatment with appropriate dyes, sub-sample  20  is provided to image analysis module  26 . Image analysis module  26  comprises a conventional microscope having an automatic motorized stage for accepting sample  14  and an attached CCD camera for recording images. Image analysis module  26  may comprise another type of platform that does not depend on motorized stages or conventional microscope architectures as long as the microscope is capable of automated image acquisition. Image analysis module  26  automatically acquires images of stained pollen and spores in sample  14  for comparison to a database  32  containing previously identified pollen and spore images and data. Once an identification is made by cross-checking the image of sub-sample  26  with images stored in database  32 , image analysis module  26  communicates the pollen/spore identification information to a controller module  34 . Image information for database  32  may be obtained or collected from pollen image databases such as PalDat of the Department of Ultrastructure Research and Palynology, University of Vienna, Austria, or several other known databases.  
         [0028]     After isolation and purification of DNA in sub-sample  22  by sample preparation module  18 , DNA analysis module  28  performs real-time polymerase chain (PCR) using rational PCR primer and probe combinations that target  18 S ribosomal genes or other discriminatory genes (or another analytical approach such as TRFLP) to identify the presence of particular pollen and/or spore DNA identification in sub-sample  34 . DNA analysis module  60  identifies the type of pollen and spores present in sub-sample  34  by comparing the results of PCR with plant DNA sequence data stored in database  32 , and then communicates the identity information to controller module  34 . A MacConnell Mini Prep system from MacConnell Research Corp., San Diego, Calif. may provide DNA extraction and preparation for DNA analysis module  60 . The Chromo 4 system from MJ Research, Waltham, Mass., may serve as real-time DNA analysis module  28 . Genetic information for database  36  may be compiled from gene sequence resources such as GenBank, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) genetic sequence database and the Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) of Michigan State University.  
         [0029]     Sub-sample  24  is provided to an XRD analysis module  30  comprising a COTS scanning XRD device. XRD analysis module  30  device provides rapid, high-definition diffraction spacings of mineral in sub-sample  24  for comparison to known mineral spacings stored in database  32  to determine mineral composition and geographic information. XRD analysis module  30  provides mineral identification and geographic information to controller module  34 . A Bede D1 diffraction system from Bede Scientific Inc., Englewood, Colo. may be used as XRD analysis module  30 . XRD information for database  36  may be obtained or collected from the International Centre for Diffraction Data database.  
         [0030]     Controller module  34  coordinates, collects, and interprets the information provided by image analysis module  26 , DNA analysis module  28 , XRD module  30 , and database module  32 . Using the identity information provided by image analysis module  26 , DNA analysis module  28 , XRD analysis module  30 , and data stored in database module  32 , controller  34  can compile geographic locations from the known geographic territories for identified particulates for visual display  36 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , information derived by the foregoing modules that is collected and interpreted by controller module  34  may be displayed by mapping an area that is consistent with the analyses, as well as providing text that describes the types of pollen, spores, and minerals with appropriate statistical confidence values.  
         [0031]     Physical geolocation system  10  may be used in a host of agricultural applications. For example, physical geolocation system  10  can determine the probable country of origin for imported fruits and vegetables, thereby determining treatment under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). By determining the probable country of origin, officials will also be able to determine if the agricultural items must be quarantined or even destroyed, based on their knowledge of agricultural problems in other countries. For example, physical geolocation system  10  can be used to screen agricultural products that originate from a geographic region having food-related medical problems, such as hoof-and-mouth disease.  
         [0032]     Physical geolocation system  10  may also be used to interrogate individuals as they enter a country. By compiling a real-time travel history, customs officials can make security decisions based on objective information about the recent whereabouts of a suspicious person, rather than relying on subject measures, such a racial profiling.  
         [0033]     Physical geolocation system  10  may be modified to serve as a real-time monitoring system  10 A, for providing real-time agricultural data to scientists and the public, or real-time allergen analysis to scientists and the public. Operation of real-time monitoring system  10 A is similar to physical geolocation system  10 , except that database  32  contains records of pollens, spores, bacteria, allergenic compounds, and potential pathogens having agricultural, biological, or health significance, rather than geographic territories. By cross-checking samples against the modified database, pollen and spores from neighboring geographic locations, known allergens, pollen or DNA from invasive or pest plant species, or spores associated with pathogenic fungal species can be detected, identified and reported.  
         [0034]     A network of real-time monitoring systems  10 A that communicate with or transmit data to a central controller  38  can identify the presence of a potential plant or livestock disease outbreak or provide an early warning to the proper authorities. A network of real-time monitoring systems  10 A deployed across a geographic or agricultural region also permits the real-time sampling, identification, and reporting of airborne agricultural pathogens, including intentionally released organisms in the event of a bio-terrorism event. The advanced warning of a possible outbreak provided by a network of real-time monitoring systems  10 A allows enhanced planning to more effectively treat potentially affected crops or livestock.  
         [0035]     Real-time monitoring systems  10 A may also provide early warning of weed or other undesirable plant infestations. By determining changes in the distribution of pollens identified from a network of real-time monitoring systems  10 A, the future density and distribution of unwanted plant species can be estimated and consulted when making eradication and/or control decisions.  
         [0036]     Real-time monitoring systems  10 A may also provide real-time allergen data to allergy suffers. For allergy applications, samples of ambient air are taken and digital images, DNA sequences, and XRD data of the particulate content are identified and crosschecked against available pollen and fungal spore allergen morphology, pollen and spore DNA databases, and diffraction data stored in database  32 . Identified allergens are reported along with a measure of their concentration (frequency of occurrence). Real-time analysis of allergens will allow the healthcare community to more readily associate allergens with symptoms and offer targeted treatments.