170 research outputs found
Least Dependent Component Analysis Based on Mutual Information
We propose to use precise estimators of mutual information (MI) to find least
dependent components in a linearly mixed signal. On the one hand this seems to
lead to better blind source separation than with any other presently available
algorithm. On the other hand it has the advantage, compared to other
implementations of `independent' component analysis (ICA) some of which are
based on crude approximations for MI, that the numerical values of the MI can
be used for:
(i) estimating residual dependencies between the output components;
(ii) estimating the reliability of the output, by comparing the pairwise MIs
with those of re-mixed components;
(iii) clustering the output according to the residual interdependencies.
For the MI estimator we use a recently proposed k-nearest neighbor based
algorithm. For time sequences we combine this with delay embedding, in order to
take into account non-trivial time correlations. After several tests with
artificial data, we apply the resulting MILCA (Mutual Information based Least
dependent Component Analysis) algorithm to a real-world dataset, the ECG of a
pregnant woman.
The software implementation of the MILCA algorithm is freely available at
http://www.fz-juelich.de/nic/cs/softwareComment: 18 pages, 20 figures, Phys. Rev. E (in press
Brownian Dynamics Simulation of Polydisperse Hard Spheres
Standard algorithms for the numerical integration of the Langevin equation
require that interactions are slowly varying during to the integration
timestep. This in not the case for hard-body systems, where there is no
clearcut between the correlation time of the noise and the timescale of the
interactions. Starting from a short time approximation of the Smoluchowsky
equation, we introduce an algorithm for the simulation of the overdamped
Brownian dynamics of polydisperse hard-spheres in absence of hydrodynamics
interactions and briefly discuss the extension to the case of external drifts
Scattering series in mobility problem for suspensions
The mobility problem for suspension of spherical particles immersed in an
arbitrary flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid is considered in the regime
of low Reynolds numbers. The scattering series which appears in the mobility
problem is simplified. The simplification relies on the reduction of the number
of types of single-particle scattering operators appearing in the scattering
series. In our formulation there is only one type of single-particle scattering
operator.Comment: 11 page
Pushmepullyou: An efficient micro-swimmer
The swimming of a pair of spherical bladders that change their volumes and
mutual distance is efficient at low Reynolds numbers and is superior to other
models of artificial swimmers. The change of shape resembles the wriggling
motion known as {\it metaboly} of certain protozoa.Comment: Minor rephrasing and changes in style; short explanations adde
Viscoelasticity near the gel-point: a molecular dynamics study
We report on extensive molecular dynamics simulations on systems of soft
spheres of functionality f, i.e. particles that are capable of bonding
irreversibly with a maximum of f other particles. These bonds are randomly
distributed throughout the system and imposed with probability p. At a critical
concentration of bonds, p_c approximately equal to 0.2488 for f=6, a gel is
formed and the shear viscosity \eta diverges according to \eta ~ (p_c-p)^{-s}.
We find s is approximately 0.7 in agreement with some experiments and with a
recent theoretical prediction based on Rouse dynamics of phantom chains. The
diffusion constant decreases as the gel point is approached but does not
display a well-defined power law.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Sedimentation and Flow Through Porous Media: Simulating Dynamically Coupled Discrete and Continuum Phases
We describe a method to address efficiently problems of two-phase flow in the
regime of low particle Reynolds number and negligible Brownian motion. One of
the phases is an incompressible continuous fluid and the other a discrete
particulate phase which we simulate by following the motion of single
particles. Interactions between the phases are taken into account using locally
defined drag forces. We apply our method to the problem of flow through random
media at high porosity where we find good agreement to theoretical expectations
for the functional dependence of the pressure drop on the solid volume
fraction. We undertake further validations on systems undergoing gravity
induced sedimentation.Comment: 22 pages REVTEX, figures separately in uudecoded, compressed
postscript format - alternatively e-mail '[email protected]' for
hardcopies
A hybrid feature selection approach for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease
Objective. Recently, significant advances have been made in the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease from EEG. However, choosing suitable measures is a challenging task. Among other measures, frequency Relative Power and loss of complexity have been used with promising results. In the present study we investigate the early diagnosis of AD using synchrony measures and frequency Relative Power on EEG signals, examining the changes found in different frequency ranges. Approach. We first explore the use of a single feature for computing the classification rate, looking for the best frequency range. Then, we present a multiple feature classification system that outperforms all previous results using a feature selection strategy. These two approaches are tested in two different databases, one containing MCI and healthy subjects (patients age: 71.9 ± 10.2, healthy subjects age: 71.7 ± 8.3), and the other containing Mild AD and healthy subjects (patients age: 77.6 ± 10.0; healthy subjects age: 69.4± 11.5). Main Results. Using a single feature to compute classification rates we achieve a performance of 78.33% for the MCI data set and of 97.56 % for Mild AD. Results are clearly improved using the multiple feature classification, where a classification rate of 95% is found for the MCI data set using 11 features, and 100% for the Mild AD data set using 4 features. Significance. The new features selection method described in this work may be a reliable tool that could help to design a realistic system that does not require prior knowledge of a patient's status. With that aim, we explore the standardization of features for MCI and Mild AD data sets with promising results
Fortified Settlements of the 9th and 10th Centuries ad in Central Europe: structure, function and symbolism
Open access article. © Society for Medieval Archaeology 2012.The structure, function(s)and symbolism of early medieval (9th-10th centuries ad) fortified settlements from central Europe, in particular today's Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia, are examined in this paper. It offers an overview of the current state of research together with new insights based on analysis of the site of Gars-Thunau in Lower Austria. Special emphasis is given to the position of the fortified sites in the landscape, to the elements of the built environment and their spatial organisation, as well as to graves within the fortified area. The region under study was situated on the SE border of the Carolingian (and later the Ottonian) Empire, with some of the discussed sites lying in the territory of the 'Great Moravian Empire' in the 9th and 10th centuries. These sites can therefore provide important comparative data for researchers working in other parts of the Carolingian Empire and neighbouring regions.Alexander von Humboldt
FoundationAustrian Science Fun
Lattice Boltzmann simulations of soft matter systems
This article concerns numerical simulations of the dynamics of particles
immersed in a continuum solvent. As prototypical systems, we consider colloidal
dispersions of spherical particles and solutions of uncharged polymers. After a
brief explanation of the concept of hydrodynamic interactions, we give a
general overview over the various simulation methods that have been developed
to cope with the resulting computational problems. We then focus on the
approach we have developed, which couples a system of particles to a lattice
Boltzmann model representing the solvent degrees of freedom. The standard D3Q19
lattice Boltzmann model is derived and explained in depth, followed by a
detailed discussion of complementary methods for the coupling of solvent and
solute. Colloidal dispersions are best described in terms of extended particles
with appropriate boundary conditions at the surfaces, while particles with
internal degrees of freedom are easier to simulate as an arrangement of mass
points with frictional coupling to the solvent. In both cases, particular care
has been taken to simulate thermal fluctuations in a consistent way. The
usefulness of this methodology is illustrated by studies from our own research,
where the dynamics of colloidal and polymeric systems has been investigated in
both equilibrium and nonequilibrium situations.Comment: Review article, submitted to Advances in Polymer Science. 16 figures,
76 page
The Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX)
Aims. The Spectrometer Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) on Solar Orbiter is a hard X-ray imaging spectrometer, which covers the energy range from 4 to 150 keV. STIX observes hard X-ray bremsstrahlung emissions from solar flares and therefore provides diagnostics of the hottest (⪆10 MK) flare plasma while quantifying the location, spectrum, and energy content of flare-accelerated nonthermal electrons.
Methods. To accomplish this, STIX applies an indirect bigrid Fourier imaging technique using a set of tungsten grids (at pitches from 0.038 to 1 mm) in front of 32 coarsely pixelated CdTe detectors to provide information on angular scales from 7 to 180 arcsec with 1 keV energy resolution (at 6 keV). The imaging concept of STIX has intrinsically low telemetry and it is therefore well-suited to the limited resources available to the Solar Orbiter payload. To further reduce the downlinked data volume, STIX data are binned on board into 32 selectable energy bins and dynamically-adjusted time bins with a typical duration of 1 s during flares.
Results. Through hard X-ray diagnostics, STIX provides critical information for understanding the acceleration of electrons at the Sun and their transport into interplanetary space and for determining the magnetic connection of Solar Orbiter back to the Sun. In this way, STIX serves to link Solar Orbiter’s remote and in-situ measurements
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