Detecting Spatial Orientation Demands during Virtual Navigation using EEG Brain Sensing

This study shows how brain sensing can offer insight to the evaluation of human spatial orientation in virtual reality (VR) and establish a role for electroencephalogram (EEG) in virtual navigation. Research suggests that the evaluation of spatial orientation in VR benefits by goingbeyond performance measures or questionnaires to measurements of the user’s cognitive state. While EEG has emerged as a practical brain sensing technology in cognitive research, spatial orientation tasks often rely on multiple factors (e.g., reference frame used, ability to update simulated rotation, and/or left-right confusion) which may be inaccessible to this measurement. EEG has been shown to correlate with human spatial orientation in previous research. In this paper, we use convolutional neural network (CNN), an advanced technique in machine learning, to train a detection model that can identify moments in which VR users experienced some increase in spatial orientation demands in real-time. Our results demonstrate that we can indeed use machine learning technique to detect such cognitive state of increasing spatial orientation demands in virtual reality research with 96% accurate on average

On the Stability and the Approximation of Branching Distribution Flows, with Applications to Nonlinear Multiple Target Filtering

We analyse the exponential stability properties of a class of measure-valued equations arising in nonlinear multi-target filtering problems. We also prove the uniform convergence properties w.r.t. the time parameter of a rather general class of stochastic filtering algorithms, including sequential Monte Carlo type models and mean eld particle interpretation models. We illustrate these results in the context of the Bernoulli and the Probability Hypothesis Density filter, yielding what seems to be the first results of this kind in this subject

Remote Entanglement between a Single Atom and a Bose-Einstein Condensate

Entanglement between stationary systems at remote locations is a key resource for quantum networks. We report on the experimental generation of remote entanglement between a single atom inside an optical cavity and a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). To produce this, a single photon is created in the atom-cavity system, thereby generating atom-photon entanglement. The photon is transported to the BEC and converted into a collective excitation in the BEC, thus establishing matter-matter entanglement. After a variable delay, this entanglement is converted into photon-photon entanglement. The matter-matter entanglement lifetime of 100 $\mu$s exceeds the photon duration by two orders of magnitude. The total fidelity of all concatenated operations is 95%. This hybrid system opens up promising perspectives in the field of quantum information

You Are Here:Geolocation by Embedding Maps and Images

We present a novel approach to geolocalising panoramic images on a 2-D cartographic map based on learning a low dimensional embedded space, which allows a comparison between an image captured at a location and local neighbourhoods of the map. The representation is not sufficiently discriminatory to allow localisation from a single image, but when concatenated along a route, localisation converges quickly, with over 90% accuracy being achieved for routes of around 200m in length when using Google Street View and Open Street Map data. The method generalises a previous fixed semantic feature based approach and achieves significantly higher localisation accuracy and faster convergence.Comment: 18 pages, new version accepted for ECCV 2020 (poster), with new results on publicly available dataset and comparison with implementation of previously published alternative approac

Economic impact of frost in the Australian wheatbelt

[Introduction]: Extreme temperatures can cause severe reductions in wheat yield, including in Australia where temperatures are highly variable within and across growing seasons. A single post head-emergence frost (PHEF) event has the potential to devastate individual wheat crop by damaging stems and killing whole head. Management of crop phenology to avoid PHEF is very important in many parts of the world where frost risk is high. Breeding for improved reproductive frost tolerance could allow greater yield and economic benefits to be achieved, by (i) reducing direct frost damage and (ii) allowing earlier sowing to reduce risks of late-season drought and/or heat stresses (Fig. 1). This study aims to provides insights into the frost impact and economic benefits of different improved frost tolerance levels across the Australian wheatbelt

From atomistic structure to thermodynamics and mechanical properties of epoxy/clay nanocomposites: Investigation by molecular dynamics simulations

International audienc

A Planarity Test via Construction Sequences

Optimal linear-time algorithms for testing the planarity of a graph are well-known for over 35 years. However, these algorithms are quite involved and recent publications still try to give simpler linear-time tests. We give a simple reduction from planarity testing to the problem of computing a certain construction of a 3-connected graph. The approach is different from previous planarity tests; as key concept, we maintain a planar embedding that is 3-connected at each point in time. The algorithm runs in linear time and computes a planar embedding if the input graph is planar and a Kuratowski-subdivision otherwise

Synthesis of Single Phase Hg-1223 High Tc Superconducting Films With Multistep Electrolytic Process

We report the multistep electrolytic process for the synthesis of high Tc single phase HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+ (Hg-1223) superconducting films. The process includes : i) deposition of BaCaCu precursor alloy, ii) oxidation of BaCaCu films, iii) electrolytic intercalation of Hg in precursor BaCaCuO films and iv) electrochemical oxidation and annealing of Hg-intercalated BaCaCuO films to convert into Hg1Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+ (Hg-1223). Films were characterized by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrolytic intercalation of Hg in BaCaCuO precursor is proved to be a novel alternative to high temperature-high pressure mercuration process. The films are single phase Hg-1223 with Tc = 121.5 K and Jc = 4.3 x 104 A/cm2.Comment: 17 Pages, 10 Figures. Submitted to Superconductor Science and Technolog

Thalamocortical Connectivity Correlates with Phenotypic Variability in Dystonia

Dystonia is a brain disorder characterized by abnormal involuntary movements without defining neuropathological changes. The disease is often inherited as an autosomal-dominant trait with incomplete penetrance. Individuals with dystonia, whether inherited or sporadic, exhibit striking phenotypic variability, with marked differences in the somatic distribution and severity of clinical manifestations. In the current study, we used magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging to identify microstructural changes associated with specific limb manifestations. Functional MRI was used to localize specific limb regions within the somatosensory cortex. Microstructural integrity was preserved when assessed in subrolandic white matter regions somatotopically related to the clinically involved limbs, but was reduced in regions linked to clinically uninvolved (asymptomatic) body areas. Clinical manifestations were greatest in subjects with relatively intact microstructure in somatotopically relevant white matter regions. Tractography revealed significant phenotype-related differences in the visualized thalamocortical tracts while corticostriatal and corticospinal pathways did not differ between groups. Cerebellothalamic microstructural abnormalities were also seen in the dystonia subjects, but these changes were associated with genotype, rather than with phenotypic variation. The findings suggest that the thalamocortical motor system is a major determinant of dystonia phenotype. This pathway may represent a novel therapeutic target for individuals with refractory limb dystonia

Observations of a high‐latitude stable electron auroral emission at ∼16 MLT during a large substorm

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94792/1/jgra21045.pd