1,308 research outputs found
Assessing the feasibility of online SSVEP decoding in human walking using a consumer EEG headset.
BackgroundBridging the gap between laboratory brain-computer interface (BCI) demonstrations and real-life applications has gained increasing attention nowadays in translational neuroscience. An urgent need is to explore the feasibility of using a low-cost, ease-of-use electroencephalogram (EEG) headset for monitoring individuals' EEG signals in their natural head/body positions and movements. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using a consumer-level EEG headset to realize an online steady-state visual-evoked potential (SSVEP)-based BCI during human walking.MethodsThis study adopted a 14-channel Emotiv EEG headset to implement a four-target online SSVEP decoding system, and included treadmill walking at the speeds of 0.45, 0.89, and 1.34 meters per second (m/s) to initiate the walking locomotion. Seventeen participants were instructed to perform the online BCI tasks while standing or walking on the treadmill. To maintain a constant viewing distance to the visual targets, participants held the hand-grip of the treadmill during the experiment. Along with online BCI performance, the concurrent SSVEP signals were recorded for offline assessment.ResultsDespite walking-related attenuation of SSVEPs, the online BCI obtained an information transfer rate (ITR) over 12 bits/min during slow walking (below 0.89 m/s).ConclusionsSSVEP-based BCI systems are deployable to users in treadmill walking that mimics natural walking rather than in highly-controlled laboratory settings. This study considerably promotes the use of a consumer-level EEG headset towards the real-life BCI applications
Investment Horizon and the Cross Section of Expected Returns: Evidence from the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Using data from the Tokyo Stock Exchange, we study how beta, size, and ratio of book to market equity (BE/ME) account for the cross-section of expected stock returns over different lengths of investment horizons. We find that , adjusted for infrequent trading or not, fails to explain the cross-section of monthly expected returns, but does a much better job for horizons over half- and one-year. However, either the size or the BE/ME alone is still a significant factor in explaining the cross-section expected returns, but the size significance diminishes for longer horizons when is included as an additional independent variable.Investment horizon, Beta, Size, Book-to-market equity, CAPM
Revealing spatio-spectral electroencephalographic dynamics of musical mode and tempo perception by independent component analysis.
BackgroundMusic conveys emotion by manipulating musical structures, particularly musical mode- and tempo-impact. The neural correlates of musical mode and tempo perception revealed by electroencephalography (EEG) have not been adequately addressed in the literature.MethodThis study used independent component analysis (ICA) to systematically assess spatio-spectral EEG dynamics associated with the changes of musical mode and tempo.ResultsEmpirical results showed that music with major mode augmented delta-band activity over the right sensorimotor cortex, suppressed theta activity over the superior parietal cortex, and moderately suppressed beta activity over the medial frontal cortex, compared to minor-mode music, whereas fast-tempo music engaged significant alpha suppression over the right sensorimotor cortex.ConclusionThe resultant EEG brain sources were comparable with previous studies obtained by other neuroimaging modalities, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET). In conjunction with advanced dry and mobile EEG technology, the EEG results might facilitate the translation from laboratory-oriented research to real-life applications for music therapy, training and entertainment in naturalistic environments
The association of molecular typing, vancomycin MIC, and clinical outcome for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections
AbstractBackground/PurposeThere are reports of an increase in vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) over time, a phenomenon referred to as āMIC creepā, but some studies have conflicting results. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of molecular typing, vancomycin MIC, and clinical outcome for patients with MRSA infections.MethodsThirty-two MRSA isolates from Taichung Veterans General Hospital (TCVGH), Taichung, Taiwan during the period of 2003 to 2008 were analyzed for the association of sequence typing, vancomycin MIC, and the correlated clinical outcome for patients with MRSA infections. The vancomycin MICs of 28 additional isolates from 2014 were used for the detection of MIC creep.ResultsAmong the genotypes of 32 isolates, there were 17 (53.1%) isolates with ST239-SCCmecIII, seven (21.9%) isolates with ST5-SCCmecII, six (18.8%) isolates with ST59-SCCmecIV, and two (6.2%) isolates with ST59-SCCmecVT. Two isolates had an MIC of 2Ā Ī¼g/mL and were identified as ST239-SCCmecIII. No statistically significant change in the distribution of MICs of all isolates was observed between 2003 and 2014 (pĀ =Ā 0.263). There was no significant difference in the mortality rates between two groups of patients with vancomycin MICs <Ā 2Ā Ī¼g/mL and ā„ 2Ā Ī¼g/mL (p =Ā >Ā 0.99).ConclusionThere was no vancomycin MIC creep in the period from 2003 to 2014 in this study. Appropriate prognostic models for assessment of the association among sequence types, vancomycin MICs, and clinical outcome warrant further investigation
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