Home Used, Patient Self-Managed, Brain-Computer Interface for Treatment of Central Neuropathic Pain in Spinal Cord Injury: Feasibility Study

Central Neuropathic Pain (CNP) is a frequent chronic condition in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). In a previous study, we showed that using laboratory brain-computer interface (BCI) technology for neurofeedback training, it is possible to reduce pain in SCI people who suffered from CNP for many years. In this study, we show initial results from 12 people with SCI and CNP who practiced neurofeedback on their own using our portable BCI, consisting of a wearable EEG headset (Emotiv, EPOC, USA) and a computer tablet. Eight participants showed a positive initial response to neurofeedback and seven learned how to use portable BCI on their own at home. In this paper, we present a portable BCI and discuss the main challenges of training lay people, patients and their caregivers, to use a custom designed BCI application at home

Exploring adaptation & self-adaptation in autonomic computing systems

This panel paper sets out to discuss what self-adaptation means, and to explore the extent to which current autonomic systems exhibit truly self-adaptive behaviour. Many of the currently cited examples are clearly adaptive, but debate remains as to what extent they are simply following prescribed adaptation rules within preset bounds, and to what extent they have the ability to truly learn new behaviour. Is there a standard test that can be applied to differentiate? Is adaptive behaviour sufficient anyway? Other autonomic computing issues are also discussed

A deliberative model for self-adaptation middleware using architectural dependency

A crucial prerequisite to externalized adaptation is an understanding of how components are interconnected, or more particularly how and why they depend on one another. Such dependencies can be used to provide an architectural model, which provides a reference point for externalized adaptation. In this paper, it is described how dependencies are used as a basis to systems' self-understanding and subsequent architectural reconfigurations. The approach is based on the combination of: instrumentation services, a dependency meta-model and a system controller. In particular, the latter uses self-healing repair rules (or conflict resolution strategies), based on extensible beliefs, desires and intention (EBDI) model, to reflect reconfiguration changes back to a target application under examination

ANGELAH: A Framework for Assisting Elders At Home

The ever growing percentage of elderly people within modern societies poses welfare systems under relevant stress. In fact, partial and progressive loss of motor, sensorial, and/or cognitive skills renders elders unable to live autonomously, eventually leading to their hospitalization. This results in both relevant emotional and economic costs. Ubiquitous computing technologies can offer interesting opportunities for in-house safety and autonomy. However, existing systems partially address in-house safety requirements and typically focus on only elder monitoring and emergency detection. The paper presents ANGELAH, a middleware-level solution integrating both ”elder monitoring and emergency detection” solutions and networking solutions. ANGELAH has two main features: i) it enables efficient integration between a variety of sensors and actuators deployed at home for emergency detection and ii) provides a solid framework for creating and managing rescue teams composed of individuals willing to promptly assist elders in case of emergency situations. A prototype of ANGELAH, designed for a case study for helping elders with vision impairments, is developed and interesting results are obtained from both computer simulations and a real-network testbed

Physicochemical and microbiological characterisation of Olive Oil Mill Wastewater (OMW) from the region of Sidi Bel Abbes (Western Algeria)

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological quality of the Olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) from the region of Sidi Bel Abbes (Western Algeria). The results of the physicochemical analysis showed that the Olive oil mill wastewater of this region has an acid pH. The average value was 4.52. OMW is rich in organic matter. This last parameter was obtained by BOD5 and COD. The BOD5 was 29 g/L and the COD was 90.5 g/L. Acidity, polyphenols and fatty acids content were also determined. Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy and UV-Visible analysis confirm the presence of polyphenols in OMW. Moreover, the microbial load of this Olive oil mill wastewater was evaluated by the determination of the total aerobic mesophilic flora FMAT, which take the value of 7.9 x 103 CFU/mL, yeasts and moulds were 0.95 x 103 CFU/mL and lactic bacteria was       6.8 x 103 CFU/mL. These analyses reveal that OMW effluents is not within the permitted values and require treatment before reuse or any direct discharge into the environment

Stochastic simulation of destruction processes in self-irradiated materials

Self-irradiation damages resulting from fission processes are common phenomena observed in nuclear fuel containing (NFC) materials. Numerous $\alpha$-decays lead to local structure transformations in NFC materials. The damages appearing due to the impacts of heavy nuclear recoils in the subsurface layer can cause detachments of material particles. Such a behaviour is similar to sputtering processes observed during a bombardment of the material surface by a flux of energetic particles. However, in the NFC material, the impacts are initiated from the bulk. In this work we propose a two-dimensional mesoscopic model to perform a stochastic simulation of the destruction processes occurring in a subsurface region of NFC material. We describe the erosion of the material surface, the evolution of its roughness and predict the detachment of the material particles. Size distributions of the emitted particles are obtained in this study. The simulation results of the model are in a qualitative agreement with the size histogram of particles produced from the material containing lava-like fuel formed during the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

Applying Passive Cooling at an Urban Level: Case Study of Dubai, UAE

This research employs the integrative process of sustainable urbanism by applying passive design strategies to promote a sustainable neighbourhood lifestyle. A selected neighbourhood in Dubai is analysed and assessed in terms of its existing achievements regarding sustainability. It does so by simulating a site’s potential, its limitations, characteristics, existing buildings, transportation status, climate, and the Dubai culture in order to optimize and develop design criteria that meet all the requirements at different levels for a sustainable neighbourhood. To permit this, five passive cooling strategies are applied. The methodology adopted for this study is the assessment of the implications of proposed designs through the use of Envi-met software simulation. As per LEED a variety of facilities are included, and land use is differentiated to enhance social interaction and to meet all the daily needs of community users in such a way as to maximize the potential of a sustainable urban design process compared with the conventional way. The sustainable corridor was also oriented toward the northwest which helped generate many wind loops towards in the direction of the central plaza and the community hall and which increased wind speed by 6m/s. Additionally, in the proposed design, open spaces and green areas were increased by 30% through the creation of a major central plaza, a walkable environment, and water features to enhance livability and comfort in the community. Additional daily facilities and entertainment destinations are provided to capitalize on the proposed open spaces. The study yielded several significant findings; most notable was the reduction of surface temperature by approximately 2.5 degrees centigrade as a result of increasing the green areas by 30% and introducing a large water body and water features on-site

Thermodynamic Consistency of Two-mechanism Models in the Non-isothermal Case

This note investigates two-mechanism models (= 2M models) in the case of plastic behavior. 2M models (or, generally, multi-mechanism models) are a useful tool for modelling of complex material behavior. They have been studied and applied for the last twenty years. We prove thermodynamic consistency for some classes of 2M models, and we derive new coupled evolution equations for the back stresses. Moreover, a coupling in the evolution equations of the internal variables is presented. Finally, a comparison between a 2M model and a modified Chabochemodel is presented in order to illustrate the possibilities and problems in modelling of complex material behavior like ratcheting