The BCI competition. III: Validating alternative approaches to actual BCI problems.

A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a system that allows its users to control external devices with brain activity. Although the proof-of-concept was given decades ago, the reliable translation of user intent into device control commands is still a major challenge. Success requires the effective interaction of two adaptive controllers: the user's brain, which produces brain activity that encodes intent, and the BCI system, which translates that activity into device control commands. In order to facilitate this interaction, many laboratories are exploring a variety of signal analysis techniques to improve the adaptation of the BCI system to the user. In the literature, many machine learning and pattern classification algorithms have been reported to give impressive results when applied to BCI data in offline analyses. However, it is more difficult to evaluate their relative value for actual online use. BCI data competitions have been organized to provide objective formal evaluations of alternative methods. Prompted by the great interest in the first two BCI Competitions, we organized the third BCI Competition to address several of the most difficult and important analysis problems in BCI research. The paper describes the data sets that were provided to the competitors and gives an overview of the results.     

Design and realization of a flexible QQVGA AMOLED display with organic TFTs

We present a QQVGA top emitting monochrome AMOLED display with 85dpi resolution using an organic TFT backplane on low temperature PEN-foil. The backplane process flow is based on a 7 layer photolithography process that yields a final mobility of the OTFT of ～0.4 cm²/Vs. The aperture ratio of the top-emitting OLEDs is over 75%. For operation at 10 V supply voltage (V_DD), the brightness of the display using red and green OLEDs exceeds 200 cd/m².     

Einfluß der Schnellabkühlung unter Spannung beim Glühen von kaltgewalztem Band auf seine mechanischen Eigenschaften

Einfluß der Schnellabkühlung unter Zugspannung beim Glühen von kaltgewalztem Band auf Streckgrenze, Zugfestigkeit, Dämpfung im Torsionsversuch und Gefüge.     

Propranolol unmasks class III like electrophysiological properties of norepinephrine

Isolated perfused spontaneously beating rabbit hearts were treated with increasing concentrations of norepinephrine (0.01, 0.1, 0.5 mumol/l) either alone or in presence of propranolol (0.1 mumol/l). For analysis of the epicardial activation and repolarization process and epicardial mapping (256 unipolar leads) was performed. For each electrode the activation and repolarization time was determined. From these data the "breakthrough-points" (BTP) of epicardial activation were determined. At each electrode an activation vector (VEC) was calculated giving direction and velocity of the local excitation wave. The beat similarity of various heart beats (under NE) compared to control was evaluated by determination of the percentage of identical BTP and of similar VEC (deviation < or = 5 degrees). Moreover at each electrode the local activation recovery interval (ARI) and its standard deviation (of 256 leads, dispersion, DISP) were determined. Norepinephrine alone (0.01, 0.1, 0.5 mumol/l) led to an increase in left ventricular pressure, heart rate and DISP with concomitant frequency dependent reduction in ARI, and to changes in the epicardial activation pattern (reduction in BTP, VEC). We found that in the presence of propranolol (0.1 mumol/l) norepinephrine prolonged ARI and reduced ARI-dispersion. This effect was not due to changes in heart rate. The disturbing effects on the activation pattern were diminished. These effects could be prevented by pretreatment with 1 mumol/l prazosin. From these results we conclude, that norepinephrine prolongs the relative action potential duration via stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptor and enhances cellular coupling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A flexible,organic QVGA display with gray‐scale capability

Abstract— A flexible 4.7‐in. QVGA active‐matrix display was demonstrated, containing 76,800 solution‐processed organic transistors. The combination of our plastic active‐matrix backplane with electrophoretic‐ink display material developed by E‐Ink resulted in a reflective low‐power display with paper‐like appearance. By using high‐performance organic transistors, it was possible to generate 2‐bit images on the display. The display can be bent to a radius below 2 cm.     

Monitoring poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production in cupriavidus necator DSM 428 (H16) with raman spectroscopy

This study explored the potential of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) in bacteria. PHB can be formed in large amounts by certain bacteria as a storage material and is of high importance for industrial biodegradable plastic production. Raman spectra were collected from Cupriavidus necator DSM 428 (H16), from its non-PHB-producing mutant strain C. necator DSM 541, and from pure PHB, in order to determine at which Raman shifts a contribution of PHB in bacterial spectra can be expected. The Raman band intensity at ca. 1734 cm(-1) appeared to be suitable for the monitoring of PHB production and consumption. These intensities were linearly related to the PHB concentration (mg L(-1) culture) determined by parallel HPLC analysis. Therefore, Raman spectroscopy is considered as a fast and noninvasive technique for the determination and monitoring of the PHB content in bacteria.