Using the Sound Card as a Timer

Experiments in mechanics can often be timed by the sounds they produce. In such cases, digital audio recordings provide a simple way of measuring time intervals with an accuracy comparable to that of photogate timers. We illustrate this with an experiment in the physics of sports: to measure the speed of a hard-kicked soccer ball.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, Late

IL METODO DELLE SOLUZIONI FONDAMENTALI PER LA SOLUZIONE DEL PROBLEMA DIRETTO M/EEG

The research already started on the mesh-free solution of the M / EEG direct problem has led to the development of a solver based on the method of fundamental solutions (MFS, method of fundamental solutions) able to manage the physical-geometric complexity of realistic models of the head more efficiently than traditional

An Improved Solver for the M/EEG Forward Problem

Noninvasive investigation of the brain activity via electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) involves a typical inverse problem whose solution process requires an accurate and fast forward solver. We propose the Method of Fundamental Solutions (MFS) as a truly meshfree alternative to the Boundary Element Method (BEM) for solving the M/EEG forward problem. The solution of the forward problem is obtained, via the Method of Particular Solutions (MPS), by numerically solving a set of coupled boundary value problems for the 3D Laplace equation. Numerical accuracy and computational load are investigated for spherical geometries and comparisons with a state-of-the-art BEM solver shows that the proposed method is competitive

A Meshfree Solver for the MEG Forward Problem

Noninvasive estimation of brain activity via magnetoencephalography (MEG) involves an inverse problem whose solution requires an accurate and fast forward solver. To this end, we propose the Method of Fundamental Solutions (MFS) as a meshfree alternative to the Boundary Element Method (BEM). The solution of the MEG forward problem is obtained, via the Method of Particular Solutions (MPS), by numerically solving a boundary value problem for the electric scalar potential, derived from the quasi-stationary approximation of Maxwell’s equations. The magnetic field is then computed by the Biot-Savart law. Numerical experiments have been carried out in a realistic single-shell head geometry. The proposed solver is compared with a state-of-the-art BEM solver. A good agreement and a reduced computational load show the attractiveness of the meshfree approach

STIMA DEL POTENZIALE ELETTRICO IN tDCS CON APPROCCIO MESHLESS INNOVATIVO

Transcranial DC stimulation (transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, tDCS) is a non-invasive technique aimed at modifying neuronal activity for the purpose therapeutic and / or for the improvement of mental performance. A continuous current of entity modest (below the threshold of perception) is injected into the brain via electrodes placed on the scalp surface to produce changes in long-term cortical activity. Despite the increasing use of this and other similar techniques, and the relevant ones applications - for example in the field of neuropsychological rehabilitation - their impact on neuronal activity is not yet fully known, mainly due to the difficulty of predict the spatial distribution of the current within the brain, and to determine the optimal position and size of the electrodes

Nanostructured Lead Electrodes with Reduced Graphene Oxide for High-Performance Lead–Acid Batteries

Nanostructured Pb electrodes consisting of nanowire arrays were obtained by electrodeposition, to be used as negative electrodes for lead–acid batteries. Reduced graphene oxide was added to improve their performances. This was achieved via the electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide directly on the surface of nanowire arrays. The electrodes with and without reduced graphene oxide were tested in a 5 M sulfuric acid solution using a commercial pasted positive plate and an absorbed glass mat separator in a zero-gap configuration. The electrodes were tested in deep cycling conditions with a very low cut-off potential. Charge–discharge tests were performed at 5C. The electrode with reduced graphene oxide outperformed the electrode without reduced graphene oxide, as it was able to work with a very high utilization of active mass and efficiency. A specific capacity of 258 mAhg−1–very close to the theoretical one–was achieved, and the electrode lasted for more than 1000 cycles. On the other hand, the electrode without reduced graphene oxide achieved a capacity close to 230 mAhg−1, which corresponds to a 90% of utilization of active mass

ADVANCED BIO-ELECTROMAGNETIC NUMERICAL MODELLING AND ICT FOR HUMAN BRAIN RESEARCH

Functional imaging is used in the research area neurological, neurophysiology and cognitive psychology, for the diagnosis of diseases metabolic and for the detection of thin / squamous lesions (eg Alzheimer's disease) and for the development of neural interfaces (brain-computer interfaces - BCI)

Cloud Photogrammetry from Space

The most commonly used method for satellite cloud top height (CTH) compares brightness temperature of the cloud with the atmospheric temperature profile. Because of the uncertainties of this method, we propose a photogrammetric approach. As clouds can move with high velocities, even instruments with multiple cameras are not appropriate for accurate CTH estimation. Here we present two solutions. The first is based on the parallax between data retrieved from geostationary (SEVIRI, HRV band; 1000 m spatial resolution) and polar orbiting satellites (MODIS, band 1; 250 m spatial resolution). The procedure works well if the data from both satellites are retrieved nearly simultaneously. However, MODIS does not retrieve the data at exactly the same time as SEVIRI. To compensate for advection in the atmosphere we use two sequential SEVIRI images (one before and one after the MODIS retrieval) and interpolate the cloud position from SEVIRI data to the time of MODIS retrieval. CTH is then estimated by intersection of corresponding lines-of-view from MODIS and interpolated SEVIRI data. The second method is based on NASA program Crew Earth observations from the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS has a lower orbit than most operational satellites, resulting in a shorter minimal time between two images, which is needed to produce a suitable parallax. In addition, images made by the ISS crew are taken by a full frame sensor and not a push broom scanner that most operational satellites use. Such data make it possible to observe also short time evolution of clouds

Behavior of a forest of NiFe nanowires in KOH and NaCl solution for water electrolysis

The present work investigates the behavior of nanostructured electrodes consisting of an array of nanowires of NiFe alloy in KOH + 0.5 M NaCl solution. The aim is to explore the possibility of using these electrodes for hydrogen production by seawater electrolysis. Seawater splitting requires a highly selective electrode on the anode side, where the evolution of molecular chlorine or the formation of other active chlorine compounds can compete with the oxygen evolution reaction. Nanostructured electrodes, obtained by template electrosynthesis, were tested at room temperature in KOH + 0.5 M NaCl solution, and the results were compared with those obtained in pure KOH. The results showed that the presence of NaCl does not affect the electrocatalytic behavior of the nanostructured NiFe alloy. Furthermore, the chemical–physical characterizations carried out after the long-term galvanostatic tests, have shown that the nanostructured electrodes are also stable in terms of morphology and composition. In addition, the solution used to perform the long-term galvanostatic tests was analyzed to investigate the possible formation of chlorine compounds. The absence of these compounds, together with the measured potential value measured for the oxygen evolution reaction, which was always lower than the thermodynamic redox potential for the hypochlorite formation reaction, leads us to conclude that these electrodes are potentially suitable for seawater electrolysis