Multi-class grasping classifiers using EEG data and a common spatial pattern filter

This paper describes the classification of various human actions from brain activity. In particular, we focus on grasping movements and estimate grasping patterns from electroencephalogram (EEG) data. EEG data is converted to grasping features by using a common spatial pattern filter (CSP filter), and the features are subsequently classified into grasping categories by using the k-nearest neighbor method. We tested the pipeline of feature extraction and classification on the EEG dataset. The EEG data were acquired while participants grasped an object according to the Cutkosky’s grasping taxonomy, in which grasping movements are categorized into nine power-type grasping patterns and seven precision-type grasping patterns. The best classification rate for 9-class power-type grasping patterns was 48% and for 7-class precision-type grasping patterns was 40%.     

Synthesis and optical properties of azobenzene side chain polymers derived from the bifunctional fumaric acid and itaconic acid

Three type polymers containing the same azobenzene side chain group with different backbone structures, poly(DMAz6Fm), poly(DMAz6It) and poly(MAz6Ac) derived respectively from fumaric acid, itaconic acid and acrylic acid, were synthesized. The dependence of photo-response properties on the polymeric architecture was investigated for the solutions and films. By irradiation of the linearly polarized light (436 nm), uniaxial orientations of the thin films were induced and anisotropic properties were investigated by measurements of the order parameters and birefringence values.     

The Effect of Air Foam Inclusion on the Permeability and Absorption Properties of Light Weight Soil

Cement-treated clay with air foam, which is called Super Geo-Material (SGM), was developed to utilize dredged clay in an effective way. As SGM is mainly used at levels below the ground water table, water permeability and absorption properties of SGM will affect the durability of the material. In this research, the changes in SGM permeability and absorption as functions of the air foam fraction were investigated. First, permeability tests with triaxial apparatus and constant rate of consolidation tests were conducted on samples containing less than 10% of air foam by volume. From the results, air foam was found to be an impermeable medium in SGM. Secondly, a series of permeability tests and absorption tests were conducted for the SGM with different fractions of air foam while observing the specimen with a micro focus X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scanner. The results showed that the permeability of SGM increased dramatically due to the appearance of interior water channels when the air foam fraction exceeded 30% by volume. The density distribution change and water absorbed zones of the specimens during absorption tests were estimated using the X-ray CT data. From these results, the air in the SGM was found to be progressively substituted with water from the surface to the inside of the specimen and the substituted zone expanded as it made its way to the specimen interior. The expansion velocity of the substituted zone was not affected by the coefficient of permeability but by the fraction of the air in the specimen.     

Biochip with integrated pumps for plug-based sequential exchange of solutions

A novel method for exchanging solutions used in biochemical analyses and a device to carry out the exchange are proposed. An array of plugs formed using six injectors was transported in a microflow channel using a main pump located at one end of the main flow channel. The injectors and main pump were operated on the basis of the change in volume caused by the electrolysis of water. Bubbles were produced from working electrodes; these bubbles caused a diaphragm placed below the injectors to inflate and occlude the inlet of the solution reservoir. Increase in the number of bubbles caused the reservoir to inject the solution into the main flow channel in the form of a plug. Each plug was individually transported downstream to the sensing area by the main pump, which was operated in a similar manner to the injector. The device was used for the detection of a tumor marker, α-fetoprotein (AFP). Plugs of necessary solutions were individually transported to the sensing area with immobilized primary antibodies to allow antigen–antibody binding, cleaning, and detection. The fluorescence intensity from the antibodies showed clear dependence on the concentration of AFP. The immobilization of antibodies could also be carried out on-chip.     

Inter-vehicle spread spectrum communication and ranging system withconcatenated EOE sequence

Proposes a method for designing spread sequences for a spread spectrum (SS) communication and ranging system. The proposed sequence is composed by concatenated equivalently odd and even (EOE) inner-sequences and an M outer sequence. We have previously proposed EOE sequences that have equivalently good properties of both even and odd correlation, what are important features for acquisition and demodulation in SS communications. Usually, simple concatenation of pseudonoise-sequences results in sequences with bad autocorrelation properties. Unlike the latter, concatenation of EOE inner sequences result in sequences with good correlation properties, exhibiting low sidelobe peaks, what is useful for achieving stable acquisition. The proposed sequences have long period. Therefore, the single concatenated EOE sequence is suitable for a spread spectrum system with both communication and ranging functions     

Catalytic behavior of AMoOx (A = Ba, Sr) in oxidation of 2-propanol

Perovskite-type oxides, BaMoO₃ and SrMoO₃, were prepared by reduction of scheelite-type oxides, BaMoO₄ and SrMoO₄, in H₂ flow at 873 K and characterized by XRD, TG, SEM, TPR, NH₃-TPD, UV-vis DRS and BET measurement. The catalytic activity of these alkaline-earth molybdenum oxide catalysts was tested for oxidation of 2-propanol with gaseous oxygen under atmospheric pressure. Dehydration to propylene was mainly promoted over the scheelite-type with Mo⁶⁺, while oxidative dehydrogenation to acetone was mainly promoted over the perovskite-type with Mo⁴⁺, and selectivity to acetone was much higher over BaMoO₃ than over SrMoO₃. Both perovskite-type oxide catalysts underwent oxidation to some degree during the catalytic reaction, so that they also contained some Mo⁶⁺. We concluded that the high selectivity to acetone resulting from oxidative dehydrogenation during 2-propanol conversion is related to the constantly changing oxidation state of the catalyst, resulting in coexistence of Mo⁶⁺ octahedra and Mo⁴⁺ octahedra on the AMoO₃ oxides.     

Guided-mode resonant grating filter with an antireflection structured surface

We describe a new structure of guided-mode resonant grating (GMRG) filters with low sideband reflectance. This GMRG filter consists of a high-index thin film on an antireflective structured surface called "moth-eye structure." Since the high-index film undulates along the surface structure, the film acts as a modulated optical waveguide. An incident light wave satisfying a resonant condition is reflected by the GMRG filter, and nonresonant light waves pass through the filter. This GMRG filter is valid for reducing reflection of nonresonant light waves in a wide spectral range. The resonant reflection of this new filter was investigated by numerical calculation based on an electromagnetic grating analysis. In the case of a triangular antireflective surface structure whose thickness is 2x greater than its period, the sideband reflectance for nonresonant light waves was lower than 0.5% for TM-polarized light in a wide range of wavelengths.