18,344 research outputs found
The Strathclyde Brain Computer Interface (S-BCI) : the road to clinical translation
In this paper, we summarise the state of development of the Strathclyde Brain Computer Interface (S-BCI) and what has been so far achieved. We also briefly discuss our next steps for translation to spinal cord injured patients and the challenges we envisage in this process and how we plan to address some of them. Projections of the S-BCI project for the coming few years are also presented
Pattern Selection in the Complex Ginzburg-Landau Equation with Multi-Resonant Forcing
We study the excitation of spatial patterns by resonant, multi-frequency
forcing in systems undergoing a Hopf bifurcation to spatially homogeneous
oscillations. Using weakly nonlinear analysis we show that for small amplitudes
only stripe or hexagon patterns are linearly stable, whereas square patterns
and patterns involving more than three modes are unstable. In the case of
hexagon patterns up- and down-hexagons can be simultaneously stable. The
third-order, weakly nonlinear analysis predicts stable square patterns and
super-hexagons for larger amplitudes. Direct simulations show, however, that in
this regime the third-order weakly nonlinear analysis is insufficient, and
these patterns are, in fact unstable
Mathematical crew motion disturbance models for spacecraft control system design
Several techniques for modeling the disturbances to a spacecraft's attitude caused by moving crew members are presented. These disturbances can be the largest moments acting on a manned spacecraft, and knowledge of their effect is important in the sizing, design, and analysis/simulation of spacecraft attitude control systems. The modeling techniques are identified as two principal types: deterministic and stochastic. Three techniques of each type are presented. The deterministic models include point-mass motion derivatives and a discussion on dynamic models of moving crew members. The stochastic techniques are highlighted by a Fourier transform method and the representation of long-term crew disturbance activities as outputs from appropriately designed filters. A z-transform technique is developed to obtain a difference-equation form of stochastic models for use on digital computers. An appendix derives spacecraft equations of motion which can be used with many of the models discussed
Reversed cortical over-activity during movement imagination following neurofeedback treatment for central neuropathic pain
Objective:
One of the brain signatures of the central neuropathic pain (CNP) is the theta band over-activity of wider cortical structures, during imagination of movement. The objective of the study was to investigate whether this over-activity is reversible following the neurofeedback treatment of CNP.
Methods:
Five paraplegic patients with pain in their legs underwent from twenty to forty neurofeedback sessions that significantly reduced their pain. In order to assess their dynamic cortical activity they were asked to imagine movements of all limbs a week before the first and a week after the last neurofeedback session. Using time–frequency analysis we compared EEG activity during imagination of movement before and after the therapy and further compared it with EEG signals of ten paraplegic patients with no pain and a control group of ten able-bodied people.
Results:
Neurofeedback treatment resulted in reduced CNP and a wide spread reduction of cortical activity during imagination of movement. The reduction was significant in the alpha and beta band but was largest in the theta band. As a result cortical activity became similar to the activity of other two groups with no pain.
Conclusions:
Reduction of CNP is accompanied by reduced cortical over-activity during movement imagination.
Significance:
Understanding causes and consequences mechanism through which CNP affects cortical activity
Dynamical Quantum Phase Transitions in the Transverse Field Ising Model
A phase transition indicates a sudden change in the properties of a large
system. For temperature-driven phase transitions this is related to
non-analytic behavior of the free energy density at the critical temperature:
The knowledge of the free energy density in one phase is insufficient to
predict the properties of the other phase. In this paper we show that a close
analogue of this behavior can occur in the real time evolution of quantum
systems, namely non-analytic behavior at a critical time. We denote such
behavior a dynamical phase transition and explore its properties in the
transverse field Ising model. Specifically, we show that the equilibrium
quantum phase transition and the dynamical phase transition in this model are
intimately related.Comment: 4+4 pages, 4 figures, Appendix adde
Steady state existence of passive vector fields under the Kraichnan model
The steady state existence problem for Kraichnan advected passive vector
models is considered for isotropic and anisotropic initial values in arbitrary
dimension. The model includes the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, linear
pressure model (LPM) and linearized Navier-Stokes (LNS) equations. In addition
to reproducing the previously known results for the MHD and linear pressure
model, we obtain the values of the Kraichnan model roughness parameter
for which the LNS steady state exists.Comment: Improved text & figures, added references & other correction
Universal Amplitude Combinations for Self-Avoiding Walks, Polygons and Trails
We give exact relations for a number of amplitude combinations that occur in
the study of self-avoiding walks, polygons and lattice trails. In particular,
we elucidate the lattice-dependent factors which occur in those combinations
which are otherwise universal, show how these are modified for oriented
lattices, and give new results for amplitude ratios involving even moments of
the area of polygons. We also survey numerical results for a wide range of
amplitudes on a number of oriented and regular lattices, and provide some new
ones.Comment: 20 pages, NI 92016, OUTP 92-54S, UCSBTH-92-5
Quintics with Finite Simple Symmetries
We construct all quintic invariants in five variables with simple Non-Abelian
finite symmetry groups. These define Calabi-Yau three-folds which are left
invariant by the action of A_5, A_6 or PSL_2(11).Comment: 18 pages, typos corrected, matches published versio
Spherical codes, maximal local packing density, and the golden ratio
The densest local packing (DLP) problem in d-dimensional Euclidean space Rd
involves the placement of N nonoverlapping spheres of unit diameter near an
additional fixed unit-diameter sphere such that the greatest distance from the
center of the fixed sphere to the centers of any of the N surrounding spheres
is minimized. Solutions to the DLP problem are relevant to the realizability of
pair correlation functions for packings of nonoverlapping spheres and might
prove useful in improving upon the best known upper bounds on the maximum
packing fraction of sphere packings in dimensions greater than three. The
optimal spherical code problem in Rd involves the placement of the centers of N
nonoverlapping spheres of unit diameter onto the surface of a sphere of radius
R such that R is minimized. It is proved that in any dimension, all solutions
between unity and the golden ratio to the optimal spherical code problem for N
spheres are also solutions to the corresponding DLP problem. It follows that
for any packing of nonoverlapping spheres of unit diameter, a spherical region
of radius less than or equal to the golden ratio centered on an arbitrary
sphere center cannot enclose a number of sphere centers greater than one more
than the number that can be placed on the region's surface.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure. Accepted for publication in the Journal of
Mathematical Physic
A summary of the Skylab crew/vehicle disturbances experiment T-013
A manned space flight experiment (designated experiment T-013) to assess the characteristics of astronaut crew-motion disturbances was conducted on the second manned Skylab mission. A brief description of the experiment hardware utilized is given, and a comprehensive discussion of the experiment data reduction and analysis is presented. Data obtained from a force-measuring system, an astronaut limb-motion measuring system, motion-picture film, and the Skylab attitude and pointing control system is described. Results show that astronaut crew members can produce significant disturbance inputs to a spacecraft's attitude control system. Total forces of up to 400 N were exerted during vigorous soaring activities, whereas ""restrained'' motions by the experiment subject generated total forces of up to 300 N. A discussion of potential applications of the experiment results is given and appendixes provide additional detail with respect to experiment operations and results
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