On the Use of Electrooculogram for Efficient Human Computer Interfaces

The aim of this study is to present electrooculogram signals that can be used for human computer interface efficiently. Establishing an efficient alternative channel for communication without overt speech and hand movements is important to increase the quality of life for patients suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or other illnesses that prevent correct limb and facial muscular responses. We have made several experiments to compare the P300-based BCI speller and EOG-based new system. A five-letter word can be written on average in 25 seconds and in 105 seconds with the EEG-based device. Giving message such as “clean-up” could be performed in 3 seconds with the new system. The new system is more efficient than P300-based BCI system in terms of accuracy, speed, applicability, and cost efficiency. Using EOG signals, it is possible to improve the communication abilities of those patients who can move their eyes

A polynomial-time algorithm for the discrete facility location problem with limited distances and capacity constraints

The objective in terms of the facility location problem with limited distances is to minimize the sum of distance functions from the facility to its clients, but with a limit on each of these distances, from which the corresponding function becomes constant. The problem is applicable in situations where the service provided by the facility is insensitive after given threshold distances. In this paper, we propose a polynomial-time algorithm for the discrete version of the problem with capacity constraints regarding the number of served clients. These constraints are relevant for introducing quality measures in facility location decision processes as well as for justifying the facility creation

Workload measurement in a communication application operated through a P300-based brain-computer interface

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The Estimation of Cortical Activity for Brain-Computer Interface: Applications in a Domotic Context

In order to analyze whether the use of the cortical activity, estimated from noninvasive EEG recordings, could be useful to detect mental states related to the imagination of limb movements, we estimate cortical activity from high-resolution EEG recordings in a group of healthy subjects by using realistic head models. Such cortical activity was estimated in region of interest associated with the subject's Brodmann areas by using a depth-weighted minimum norm technique. Results showed that the use of the cortical-estimated activity instead of the unprocessed EEG improves the recognition of the mental states associated to the limb movement imagination in the group of normal subjects. The BCI methodology presented here has been used in a group of disabled patients in order to give them a suitable control of several electronic devices disposed in a three-room environment devoted to the neurorehabilitation. Four of six patients were able to control several electronic devices in this domotic context with the BCI system

Reflections on retrofits: Overcoming barriers to energy efficiency among the fuel poor in the United Kingdom

To meet targets on fuel poverty, energy efficiency and carbon emissions existing homes need to be more energy efficient. We report the results of a participatory action research project to explore the challenges associated with energy efficiency retrofit programmes and ways to better implement future schemes. Six focus groups were held with 48 participants from a range of energy efficiency roles. Data were analysed thematically using the research question “What are the challenges presented by implementing energy efficiency retrofit programmes”. We identified four themes in the data: Funding mechanisms; Predicting performance; Installation; and People. Challenges include funding mechanisms for retrofit programmes resulting in insufficient time to plan, publicise, implement and evaluate a scheme and insufficient flexibility to specify the most appropriate intervention for individual homes. Site workers sometimes need to adapt retrofit designs because of insufficient detail from the designer and can equate quality of installation with quality of finish. Landlords and occupier behaviour can impact on the programme's success and there is a need for greater information on benefits for landlords and for energy behaviour change interventions run alongside retrofit programmes for occupiers. There is a need for outcome evaluations of retrofit schemes with the results shared with stakeholders

Haptic Feedback Compared with Visual Feedback for BCI

Feedback plays an important role when learning to use a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). Here we compare visual and haptic feedback in a short experiment. By imagining left and right hand movements, six subjects tried to control a BCI with the help of either visual or haptic feedback every 1s. Alpha band EEG signals from C3 and C4 were classified. The classifier was updated after each prediction using correct class information. Thus feedback could be given throughout the experiment. Subjects got better at controlling the BCI during the experiment independent of the feedback modality. Haptic feedback did not present any artifacts to the signals. More research is required on haptic feedback for BCI-applications because it frees visual attention to other tasks

Dissecting distinct proteolytic activities of FMDV Lpro implicates cleavage and degradation of RLR signaling proteins, not its deISGylase/DUB activity, in type I interferon suppression

Author summary Outbreaks of the picornavirus foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) have significant consequences for animal health and product safety and place a major economic burden on the global livestock industry. Understanding how this notorious animal pathogen suppresses the antiviral type I interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) response may help to develop countermeasures to control FMDV infections. FMDV suppresses the IFN-alpha/beta response through the activity of its Leader protein (L-pro), a protease that can cleave host cell proteins. L(pro)was also shown to have deubiquitinase and deISGylase activity, raising the possibility that L(pro)suppresses IFN-alpha/beta by removing ubiquitin and/or ISG15, two posttranslational modifications that can regulate the activation, interactions and localization of (signaling) proteins. Here, we show that TBK1 and MAVS, two signaling proteins that are important for activation of IFN-alpha/beta gene transcription, are cleaved by L-pro. By generating L(pro)mutants lacking either of these two activities, we demonstrate that L-pro's ability to cleave signaling proteins, but not its deubiquitination/deISGylase activity, correlates with suppression of IFN-beta gene transcription. The type I interferon response is an important innate antiviral pathway. Recognition of viral RNA by RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) activates a signaling cascade that leads to type I interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) gene transcription. Multiple proteins in this signaling pathway (e.g. RIG-I, MDA5, MAVS, TBK1, IRF3) are regulated by (de)ubiquitination events. Most viruses have evolved mechanisms to counter this antiviral response. The leader protease (L-pro) of foot-and-mouth-disease virus (FMDV) has been recognized to reduce IFN-alpha/beta gene transcription; however, the exact mechanism is unknown. The proteolytic activity of L(pro)is vital for releasing itself from the viral polyprotein and for cleaving and degrading specific host cell proteins, such as eIF4G and NF-kappa B. In addition, L(pro)has been demonstrated to have deubiquitination/deISGylation activity. L-pro's deubiquitination/deISGylation activity and the cleavage/degradation of signaling proteins have both been postulated to be important for reduced IFN-alpha/beta gene transcription. Here, we demonstrate that TBK1, the kinase that phosphorylates and activates the transcription factor IRF3, is cleaved by L(pro)in FMDV-infected cells as well as in cells infected with a recombinant EMCV expressing L-pro.In vitrocleavage experiments revealed that L(pro)cleaves TBK1 at residues 692-694. We also observed cleavage of MAVS in HeLa cells infected with EMCV-L-pro, but only observed decreasing levels of MAVS in FMDV-infected porcine LFPK alpha V beta 6 cells. We set out to dissect L-pro's ability to cleave RLR signaling proteins from its deubiquitination/deISGylation activity, to determine their relative contributions to the reduction of IFN-alpha/beta gene transcription. The introduction of specific mutations, of which several were based on the recently published structure of L(pro)in complex with ISG15, allowed us to identify specific amino acid substitutions that separate the different proteolytic activities of L-pro. Characterization of the effects of these mutations revealed that L-pro's ability to cleave RLR signaling proteins but not its deubiquitination/deISGylation activity correlates with the reduced IFN-beta gene transcription

Brain-Machine Interfaces through Control of Electroencephalographic Signals and Vibrotactile Feedback

A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) allow direct expression of its user�s will by interpreting signals which directly reflect the brain�s activity, thus bypassing the natural efferent channels (nerves and muscles). To be correctly mastered, it is needed that this artificial efferent channel is complemented by an artificial feedback, which continuously informs the user about the current state (in the same way as proprioceptors give a feedback about joint angle and muscular tension). This feedback is usually delivered through the visual channel. We explored the benefits of vibrotactile feedback during users� training and control of EEG-based BCI applications. A protocol for delivering vibrotactile feedback, including specific hardware and software arrangements, was specified and implemented. Thirteen subjects participated in an experiment where the feedback of the BCI system was delivered either through a visual display, or through a vibrotactile display, while they performed a virtual navigation task. Attention to the task was probed by presenting visual cues that the subjects had to describe afterwards. When compared with visual feedback, the use of tactile feedback did not decrease BCI control performance; on the other side, it improved the capacity of subjects to concentrate on the requested (visual) task. During experiments, vibrotactile feedback felt (after some training) more natural. This study indicated that the vibrotactile channel can function as a valuable feedback modality in the context of BCI applications. Advantages of using a vibrotactile feedback emerged when the visual channel was highly loaded by a complex task