3,838 research outputs found
Design and Evaluation of a Hardware System for Online Signal Processing within Mobile Brain-Computer Interfaces
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) sind innovative Systeme, die eine direkte Kommunikation zwischen dem Gehirn und externen GerĂ€ten ermöglichen. Diese Schnittstellen haben sich zu einer transformativen Lösung nicht nur fĂŒr Menschen mit neurologischen Verletzungen entwickelt, sondern auch fĂŒr ein breiteres Spektrum von Menschen, das sowohl medizinische als auch nicht-medizinische Anwendungen umfasst. In der Vergangenheit hat die Herausforderung, dass neurologische Verletzungen nach einer anfĂ€nglichen Erholungsphase statisch bleiben, die Forscher dazu veranlasst, innovative Wege zu beschreiten. Seit den 1970er Jahren stehen BCIs an vorderster Front dieser BemĂŒhungen. Mit den Fortschritten in der Forschung haben sich die BCI-Anwendungen erweitert und zeigen ein groĂes Potenzial fĂŒr eine Vielzahl von Anwendungen, auch fĂŒr weniger stark eingeschrĂ€nkte (zum Beispiel im Kontext von Hörelektronik) sowie völlig gesunde Menschen (zum Beispiel in der Unterhaltungsindustrie). Die Zukunft der BCI-Forschung hĂ€ngt jedoch auch von der VerfĂŒgbarkeit zuverlĂ€ssiger BCI-Hardware ab, die den Einsatz in der realen Welt gewĂ€hrleistet.
Das im Rahmen dieser Arbeit konzipierte und implementierte CereBridge-System stellt einen bedeutenden Fortschritt in der Brain-Computer-Interface-Technologie dar, da es die gesamte Hardware zur Erfassung und Verarbeitung von EEG-Signalen in ein mobiles System integriert. Die Architektur der Verarbeitungshardware basiert auf einem FPGA mit einem ARM Cortex-M3 innerhalb eines heterogenen ICs, was FlexibilitĂ€t und Effizienz bei der EEG-Signalverarbeitung gewĂ€hrleistet. Der modulare Aufbau des Systems, bestehend aus drei einzelnen Boards, gewĂ€hrleistet die Anpassbarkeit an unterschiedliche Anforderungen. Das komplette System wird an der Kopfhaut befestigt, kann autonom arbeiten, benötigt keine externe Interaktion und wiegt einschlieĂlich der 16-Kanal-EEG-Sensoren nur ca. 56 g. Der Fokus liegt auf voller MobilitĂ€t.
Das vorgeschlagene anpassbare Datenflusskonzept erleichtert die Untersuchung und nahtlose Integration von Algorithmen und erhöht die FlexibilitĂ€t des Systems. Dies wird auch durch die Möglichkeit unterstrichen, verschiedene Algorithmen auf EEG-Daten anzuwenden, um unterschiedliche Anwendungsziele zu erreichen. High-Level Synthesis (HLS) wurde verwendet, um die Algorithmen auf das FPGA zu portieren, was den Algorithmenentwicklungsprozess beschleunigt und eine schnelle Implementierung von Algorithmusvarianten ermöglicht. Evaluierungen haben gezeigt, dass das CereBridge-System in der Lage ist, die gesamte Signalverarbeitungskette zu integrieren, die fĂŒr verschiedene BCI-Anwendungen erforderlich ist. DarĂŒber hinaus kann es mit einer Batterie von mehr als 31 Stunden Dauerbetrieb betrieben werden, was es zu einer praktikablen Lösung fĂŒr mobile Langzeit-EEG-Aufzeichnungen und reale BCI-Studien macht.
Im Vergleich zu bestehenden Forschungsplattformen bietet das CereBridge-System eine bisher unerreichte LeistungsfĂ€higkeit und Ausstattung fĂŒr ein mobiles BCI. Es erfĂŒllt nicht nur die relevanten Anforderungen an ein mobiles BCI-System, sondern ebnet auch den Weg fĂŒr eine schnelle Ăbertragung von Algorithmen aus dem Labor in reale Anwendungen. Im Wesentlichen liefert diese Arbeit einen umfassenden Entwurf fĂŒr die Entwicklung und Implementierung eines hochmodernen mobilen EEG-basierten BCI-Systems und setzt damit einen neuen Standard fĂŒr BCI-Hardware, die in der Praxis eingesetzt werden kann.Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are innovative systems that enable direct communication between the brain and external devices. These interfaces have emerged as a transformative solution not only for individuals with neurological injuries, but also for a broader range of individuals, encompassing both medical and non-medical applications. Historically, the challenge of neurological injury being static after an initial recovery phase has driven researchers to explore innovative avenues. Since the 1970s, BCIs have been at one forefront of these efforts. As research has progressed, BCI applications have expanded, showing potential in a wide range of applications, including those for less severely disabled (e.g. in the context of hearing aids) and completely healthy individuals (e.g. entertainment industry). However, the future of BCI research also depends on the availability of reliable BCI hardware to ensure real-world application.
The CereBridge system designed and implemented in this work represents a significant leap forward in brain-computer interface technology by integrating all EEG signal acquisition and processing hardware into a mobile system. The processing hardware architecture is centered around an FPGA with an ARM Cortex-M3 within a heterogeneous IC, ensuring flexibility and efficiency in EEG signal processing. The modular design of the system, consisting of three individual boards, ensures adaptability to different requirements. With a focus on full mobility, the complete system is mounted on the scalp, can operate autonomously, requires no external interaction, and weighs approximately 56g, including 16 channel EEG sensors.
The proposed customizable dataflow concept facilitates the exploration and seamless integration of algorithms, increasing the flexibility of the system. This is further underscored by the ability to apply different algorithms to recorded EEG data to meet different application goals. High-Level Synthesis (HLS) was used to port algorithms to the FPGA, accelerating the algorithm development process and facilitating rapid implementation of algorithm variants. Evaluations have shown that the CereBridge system is capable of integrating the complete signal processing chain required for various BCI applications. Furthermore, it can operate continuously for more than 31 hours with a 1800mAh battery, making it a viable solution for long-term mobile EEG recording and real-world BCI studies.
Compared to existing research platforms, the CereBridge system offers unprecedented performance and features for a mobile BCI. It not only meets the relevant requirements for a mobile BCI system, but also paves the way for the rapid transition of algorithms from the laboratory to real-world applications. In essence, this work provides a comprehensive blueprint for the development and implementation of a state-of-the-art mobile EEG-based BCI system, setting a new benchmark in BCI hardware for real-world applicability
Neuromodulatory effects on early visual signal processing
Understanding how the brain processes information and generates simple to complex behavior constitutes one of the core objectives in systems neuroscience. However, when studying different neural circuits, their dynamics and interactions researchers often assume fixed connectivity, overlooking a crucial factor - the effect of neuromodulators. Neuromodulators can modulate circuit activity depending on several aspects, such as different brain states or sensory contexts. Therefore, considering the modulatory effects of neuromodulators on the functionality of neural circuits is an indispensable step towards a more complete picture of the brainâs ability to process information. Generally, this issue affects all neural systems; hence this thesis tries to address this with an experimental and computational approach to resolve neuromodulatory effects on cell type-level in a well-define system, the mouse retina. In the first study, we established and applied a machine-learning-based classification algorithm to identify individual functional retinal ganglion cell types, which enabled detailed cell type-resolved analyses. We applied the classifier to newly acquired data of light-evoked retinal ganglion cell responses and successfully identified their functional types. Here, the cell type-resolved analysis revealed that a particular principle of efficient coding applies to all types in a similar way. In a second study, we focused on the issue of inter-experimental variability that can occur during the process of pooling datasets. As a result, further downstream analyses may be complicated by the subtle variations between the individual datasets. To tackle this, we proposed a theoretical framework based on an adversarial autoencoder with the objective to remove inter-experimental variability from the pooled dataset, while preserving the underlying biological signal of interest. In the last study of this thesis, we investigated the functional effects of the neuromodulator nitric oxide on the retinal output signal. To this end, we used our previously developed retinal ganglion cell type classifier to unravel type-specific effects and established a paired recording protocol to account for type-specific time-dependent effects. We found that certain
retinal ganglion cell types showed adaptational type-specific changes and that nitric oxide had a distinct modulation of a particular group of retinal ganglion cells.
In summary, I first present several experimental and computational methods that allow to
study functional neuromodulatory effects on the retinal output signal in a cell type-resolved manner and, second, use these tools to demonstrate their feasibility to study the neuromodulator nitric oxide
Applications of Deep Learning Models in Financial Forecasting
In financial markets, deep learning techniques sparked a revolution, reshaping conventional approaches and amplifying predictive capabilities. This thesis explored the applications of deep learning models to unravel insights and methodologies aimed at advancing financial forecasting.
The crux of the research problem lies in the applications of predictive models within financial domains, characterised by high volatility and uncertainty. This thesis investigated the application of advanced deep-learning methodologies in the context of financial forecasting, addressing the challenges posed by the dynamic nature of financial markets. These challenges were tackled by exploring a range of techniques, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), long short-term memory networks (LSTMs), autoencoders (AEs), and variational autoencoders (VAEs), along with
approaches such as encoding financial time series into images. Through analysis, methodologies such as transfer learning, convolutional neural networks, long short-term memory networks, generative modelling, and image encoding of time series data were examined. These methodologies collectively offered a comprehensive toolkit for extracting meaningful insights from financial data.
The present work investigated the practicality of a deep learning CNN-LSTM model within the Directional Change framework to predict significant DC eventsâa task crucial for timely decisionmaking in financial markets. Furthermore, the potential of autoencoders and variational autoencoders to enhance financial forecasting accuracy and remove noise from financial time series data was explored. Leveraging their capacity within financial time series, these models offered promising avenues for improved data representation and subsequent forecasting. To further contribute to
financial prediction capabilities, a deep multi-model was developed that harnessed the power of pre-trained computer vision models. This innovative approach aimed to predict the VVIX, utilising the cross-disciplinary synergy between computer vision and financial forecasting. By integrating knowledge from these domains, novel insights into the prediction of market volatility were provided
Evaluation of Data Processing and Artifact Removal Approaches Used for Physiological Signals Captured Using Wearable Sensing Devices during Construction Tasks
Wearable sensing devices (WSDs) have enormous promise for monitoring construction worker safety. They can track workers and send safety-related information in real time, allowing for more effective and preventative decision making. WSDs are particularly useful on construction sites since they can track workersâ health, safety, and activity levels, among other metrics that could help optimize their daily tasks. WSDs may also assist workers in recognizing health-related safety risks (such as physical fatigue) and taking appropriate action to mitigate them. The data produced by these WSDs, however, is highly noisy and contaminated with artifacts that could have been introduced by the surroundings, the experimental apparatus, or the subjectâs physiological state. These artifacts are very strong and frequently found during field experiments. So, when there is a lot of artifacts, the signal quality drops. Recently, artifacts removal has been greatly enhanced by developments in signal processing, which has vastly enhanced the performance. Thus, the proposed review aimed to provide an in-depth analysis of the approaches currently used to analyze data and remove artifacts from physiological signals obtained via WSDs during construction-related tasks. First, this study provides an overview of the physiological signals that are likely to be recorded from construction workers to monitor their health and safety. Second, this review identifies the most prevalent artifacts that have the most detrimental effect on the utility of the signals. Third, a comprehensive review of existing artifact-removal approaches were presented. Fourth, each identified artifact detection and removal approach was analyzed for its strengths and weaknesses. Finally, in conclusion, this review provides a few suggestions for future research for improving the quality of captured physiological signals for monitoring the health and safety of construction workers using artifact removal approaches
On the evolution of turbulent boundary layers during flame-wall interaction investigated by highly resolved laser diagnostics
The turbulent boundary layer behavior in the presence of flame-wall interactions (FWI) has an important role on the mass and energy transfer at the gas/solid interface. Detailed experiments resolving the turbulent boundary layer evolution in the presence of FWI are lacking, which impedes knowledge. This work presents a combination of particle image velocimetry (flow field), dual-pump coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (gas temperature), and OH laser induced fluorescence (flame topology) measurements to study the evolution of the boundary layer structure in the presence of FWI. Experiments are conducted in a side-wall quenching (SWQ) burner. Findings reveal that the reacting boundary layer flow adheres to the linear scaling law u+ = y+ in the viscous sublayer until y+ = 5. Beyond y+ = 5, the flame modifies the velocity and temperature field such that the uz+ streamwise velocity deviates from the viscous sublayer and the law-of-the-wall scaling in the log-layer with uz+ being smaller than that of the non-reacting flow (the subscript z refers to the streamwise coordinate and is used throughout this manuscript). As the fluid approaches the flame impingement location at the wall, the gas temperature increases significantly, causing a threefold increase in kinematic viscosity, Μ. Although the near-wall streamwise velocity gradient d<Uz>/dy|y=0 decreases, the larger increase in Μ reduces uz+ and leads to the deviation from the law-of-the-wall. Downstream the flame impingement location, Μ is relatively constant and uz+ values begin to approach those of the law-of-the-wall. Trends are presented for SWQ and head-on quenching flame topologies, and are intended to help development of more accurate wall models. </div
Reliable Sensor Intelligence in Resource Constrained and Unreliable Environment
The objective of this research is to design a sensor intelligence that is reliable in a resource constrained, unreliable environment. There are various sources of variations and uncertainty involved in intelligent sensor system, so it is critical to build reliable sensor intelligence. Many prior works seek to design reliable sensor intelligence by developing robust and reliable task. This thesis suggests that along with improving task itself, task reliability quantification based early warning can further improve sensor intelligence. DNN based early warning generator quantifies task reliability based on spatiotemporal characteristics of input, and the early warning controls sensor parameters and avoids system failure. This thesis presents an early warning generator that predicts task failure due to sensor hardware induced input corruption and controls the sensor operation. Moreover, lightweight uncertainty estimator is presented to take account of DNN model uncertainty in task reliability quantification without prohibitive computation from stochastic DNN. Cross-layer uncertainty estimation is also discussed to consider the effect of PIM variations.Ph.D
Smart Gas Sensors: Materials, Technologies, Practical âApplications, and Use of Machine Learning â A Review
The electronic nose, popularly known as the E-nose, that combines gas sensor arrays (GSAs) with machine learning has gained a strong foothold in gas sensing technology. The E-nose designed to mimic the human olfactory system, is used for the detection and identification of various volatile compounds. The GSAs develop a unique signal fingerprint for each volatile compound to enable pattern recognition using machine learning algorithms. The inexpensive, portable and non-invasive characteristics of the E-nose system have rendered it indispensable within the gas-sensing arena. As a result, E-noses have been widely employed in several applications in the areas of the food industry, health management, disease diagnosis, water and air quality control, and toxic gas leakage detection. This paper reviews the various sensor fabrication technologies of GSAs and highlights the main operational framework of the E-nose system. The paper details vital signal pre-processing techniques of feature extraction, feature selection, in addition to machine learning algorithms such as SVM, kNN, ANN, and Random Forests for determining the type of gas and estimating its concentration in a competitive environment. The paper further explores the potential applications of E-noses for diagnosing diseases, monitoring air quality, assessing the quality of food samples and estimating concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air and in food samples. The review concludes with some challenges faced by E-nose, alternative ways to tackle them and proposes some recommendations as potential future work for further development and design enhancement of E-noses
Machine learning applications in search algorithms for gravitational waves from compact binary mergers
Gravitational waves from compact binary mergers are now routinely observed by Earth-bound detectors. These observations enable exciting new science, as they have opened a new window to the Universe.
However, extracting gravitational-wave signals from the noisy detector data is a challenging problem. The most sensitive search algorithms for compact binary mergers use matched filtering, an algorithm that compares the data with a set of expected template signals. As detectors are upgraded and more sophisticated signal models become available, the number of required templates will increase, which can make some sources computationally prohibitive to search for. The computational cost is of particular concern when low-latency alerts should be issued to maximize the time for electromagnetic follow-up observations. One potential solution to reduce computational requirements that has started to be explored in the last decade is machine learning. However, different proposed deep learning searches target varying parameter spaces and use metrics that are not always comparable to existing literature. Consequently, a clear picture of the capabilities of machine learning searches has been sorely missing.
In this thesis, we closely examine the sensitivity of various deep learning gravitational-wave search algorithms and introduce new methods to detect signals from binary black hole and binary neutron star mergers at previously untested statistical confidence levels. By using the sensitive distance as our core metric, we allow for a direct comparison of our algorithms to state-of-the-art search pipelines. As part of this thesis, we organized a global mock data challenge to create a benchmark for machine learning search algorithms targeting compact binaries. This way, the tools developed in this thesis are made available to the greater community by publishing them as open source software.
Our studies show that, depending on the parameter space, deep learning gravitational-wave search algorithms are already competitive with current production search pipelines. We also find that strategies developed for traditional searches can be effectively adapted to their machine learning counterparts. In regions where matched filtering becomes computationally expensive, available deep learning algorithms are also limited in their capability. We find reduced sensitivity to long duration signals compared to the excellent results for short-duration binary black hole signals
Medical Image Analysis using Deep Relational Learning
In the past ten years, with the help of deep learning, especially the rapid
development of deep neural networks, medical image analysis has made remarkable
progress. However, how to effectively use the relational information between
various tissues or organs in medical images is still a very challenging
problem, and it has not been fully studied. In this thesis, we propose two
novel solutions to this problem based on deep relational learning. First, we
propose a context-aware fully convolutional network that effectively models
implicit relation information between features to perform medical image
segmentation. The network achieves the state-of-the-art segmentation results on
the Multi Modal Brain Tumor Segmentation 2017 (BraTS2017) and Multi Modal Brain
Tumor Segmentation 2018 (BraTS2018) data sets. Subsequently, we propose a new
hierarchical homography estimation network to achieve accurate medical image
mosaicing by learning the explicit spatial relationship between adjacent
frames. We use the UCL Fetoscopy Placenta dataset to conduct experiments and
our hierarchical homography estimation network outperforms the other
state-of-the-art mosaicing methods while generating robust and meaningful
mosaicing result on unseen frames.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:2007.0778
Modeling human observer detection in undersampled magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reconstruction with total variation and wavelet sparsity regularization
Purpose: Task-based assessment of image quality in undersampled magnetic
resonance imaging provides a way of evaluating the impact of regularization on
task performance. In this work, we evaluated the effect of total variation (TV)
and wavelet regularization on human detection of signals with a varying
background and validated a model observer in predicting human performance.
Approach: Human observer studies used two-alternative forced choice (2-AFC)
trials with a small signal known exactly task but with varying backgrounds for
fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images reconstructed from undersampled
multi-coil data. We used a 3.48 undersampling factor with TV and a wavelet
sparsity constraints. The sparse difference-of-Gaussians (S-DOG) observer with
internal noise was used to model human observer detection.
Results: We observed a trend that the human observer detection performance
remained fairly constant for a broad range of values in the regularization
parameter before decreasing at large values. A similar result was found for the
normalized ensemble root mean squared error. Without changing the internal
noise, the model observer tracked the performance of the human observers as the
regularization was increased but overestimated the PC for large amounts of
regularization for TV and wavelet sparsity, as well as the combination of both
parameters.
Conclusions: For the task we studied, the S-DOG observer was able to
reasonably predict human performance with both TV and wavelet sparsity
regularizers over a broad range of regularization parameters. We observed a
trend that task performance remained fairly constant for a range of
regularization parameters before decreasing for large amounts of
regularization
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