Dynamical Component Analysis (DyCA) and its application on epileptic EEG

Dynamical Component Analysis (DyCA) is a recently-proposed method to detect projection vectors to reduce the dimensionality of multi-variate deterministic datasets. It is based on the solution of a generalized eigenvalue problem and therefore straight forward to implement. DyCA is introduced and applied to EEG data of epileptic seizures. The obtained eigenvectors are used to project the signal and the corresponding trajectories in phase space are compared with PCA and ICA-projections. The eigenvalues of DyCA are utilized for seizure detection and the obtained results in terms of specificity, false discovery rate and miss rate are compared to other seizure detection algorithms.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP) 201

Preparation of Nanocomposites from Styrene and Modified Graphite Oxides

Graphite oxide was prepared and modified with several ammonium salts and these modified graphite oxides were used to prepare nanocomposites with polystyrene by in situ polymerization of styrene monomer and by melt blending with polystyrene. Nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, cone calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis and the evaluation of mechanical properties. Nanocomposites are formed by in situ polymerization but not by melt blending; the graphite oxide undergoes thermal degradation at the temperature of melt blending so nanocomposite formation would be unlikely. Mechanical properties of the melt blended nanocomposites are improved relative to the virgin polystyrene while those prepared by in situ polymerization are decreased, except in the case of Young\u27s Modulus, where melt blended and in situ polymerized materials show similar results

Polystyrene/Graphite Nanocomposites: Effect on Thermal Stability

Nanocomposites consisting of polymer and clay have been shown to exhibit a significant reduction in flammability and an increase in mechanical properties. This work examines the effect of thermal stability and mechanical properties of nanocomposites prepared from potassium graphite and styrene. Synthesis of nanocomposites was accomplished by using potassium graphite (KC8) as the initiator in the polymerization of styrene. A slight increase in thermal stability is observed but mechanical properties are decreased

The antiquity of the Rhine River : stratigraphic coverage of the Dinotheriensande (Eppelsheim Formation) of the Mainz Basin (Germany)

Background: Mammalian fossils from the Eppelsheim Formation (Dinotheriensande) have been a benchmark for Neogene vertebrate palaeontology since 200 years. Worldwide famous sites like Eppelsheim serve as key localities for biochronologic, palaeobiologic, environmental, and mammal community studies. So far the formation is considered to be of early Late Miocene age (~9.5 Ma, Vallesian), representing the oldest sediments of the Rhine River. The stratigraphic unity of the formation and of its fossil content was disputed at times, but persists unresolved. Principal Findings: Here we investigate a new fossil sample from Sprendlingen, composed by over 300 mammalian specimens and silicified wood. The mammals comprise entirely Middle Miocene species, like cervids Dicrocerus elegans, Paradicrocerus elegantulus, and deinotheres Deinotherium bavaricum and D. levius. A stratigraphic evaluation of Miocene Central European deer and deinothere species proof the stratigraphic inhomogenity of the sample, and suggest late Middle Miocene (~12.5 Ma) reworking of early Middle Miocene (~15 Ma) sediments. This results agree with taxonomic and palaeoclimatic analysis of plant fossils from above and within the mammalian assemblage. Based on the new fossil sample and published data three biochronologic levels within the Dinotheriensand fauna can be differentiated, corresponding to early Middle Miocene (late Orleanian to early Astaracian), late Middle Miocene (late Astaracian), and early Late Miocene (Vallesian) ages. Conclusions/Significance: This study documents complex faunal mixing of classical Dinotheriensand fauna, covering at least six million years, during a time of low subsidence in the Mainz Basin and shifts back the origination of the Rhine River by some five million years. Our results have severe implications for biostratigraphy and palaeobiology of the Middle to Late Miocene. They suggest that turnover events may be obliterated and challenge the proposed ‘supersaturated’ biodiversity, caused by Middle Miocene superstites, of Vallesian ecosystems in Central Europe