BCI Competition 2003--Data set Ia: combining gamma-band power with slow cortical potentials to improve single-trial classification of electroencephalographic signals

In one type of brain-computer interface (BCI), users self-modulate brain activity as detected by electroencephalography (EEG). To infer user intent, EEG signals are classified by algorithms which typically use only one of the several types of information available in these signals. One such BCI uses slow cortical potential (SCP) measures to classify single trials. We complemented these measures with estimates of high-frequency (gamma-band) activity, which has been associated with attentional and intentional states. Using a simple linear classifier, we obtained significantly greater classification accuracy using both types of information from the same recording epochs compared to using SCPs alone.     

Making inferences about the location of hidden food: Social dog, causal ape.

Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) and great apes from the genus Pan were tested on a series of object choice tasks. In each task, the location of hidden food was indicated for subjects by some kind of communicative, behavioral, or physical cue. On the basis of differences in the ecologies of these 2 genera, as well as on previous research, the authors hypothesized that dogs should be especially skillful in using human communicative cues such as the pointing gesture, whereas apes should be especially skillful in using physical, causal cues such as food in a cup making noise when it is shaken. The overall pattern of performance by the 2 genera strongly supported this social-dog, causal-ape hypothesis. This result is discussed in terms of apes' adaptations for complex, extractive foraging and dogs' adaptations, during the domestication process, for cooperative communication with humans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Shear Banding in Sandstone: Physical and Numerical Studies

The development of a localized damage zone or shear band in rock was studied through numerical and physical experiments. A laboratory biaxial (plane strain) compression test was conducted on a prismatic specimen of Berea sandstone. The shear band initiation and propagation were monitored by locations of acoustic emission and examination of thin sections of the failed specimen. Numerical analysis using a discrete element model was conducted to simulate the laboratory results. The model was able to capture many details of the damage zone observed in the physical experiment.     

Crystallization Behavior of Amorphous Silicon Carbonitride Ceramics Derived from Organometallic Precursors

The crystallization behavior of organometallic-precursor-derived amorphous Si-C-N ceramics was investigated under N₂ atmosphere using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and solid-state ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Amorphous Si-C-N ceramics with a C/Si atomic ratio in the range of 0.34–1.13 were prepared using polycarbosilane-polysilazane blends, single-source polysilazanes, and single-source polysilylcarbodiimides. The XRD study indicated that the crystallization temperature of Si₃N₄ increased consistently with the C/Si atomic ratio and reached 1500°C at C/Si atomic ratios ranging from 0.53 to 1.13. This temperature was 300°C higher than that of the carbon-free amorphous Si-N material. In contrast, the SiC crystallization temperature showed no clear relation with the C/Si atomic ratio. The TEM and NMR analyses revealed that the crystallization of amorphous Si-C-N was governed by carbon content, chemical homogeneity, and molecular structure of the amorphous Si-C-N network.     

2W reliable operation of λ=735 nm GaAsP/AlGaAs laser diodes

Reliable operation of 735 nm laser diodes based on a tensile-strained GaAsP quantum well embedded in an AlGaAs large optical cavity structure is reported. The 100 μm stripe width laser diodes were aged at a record high output power of 2W for 2000 hours. The degradation rates were 3.6×10^-5 h^-1     

Vorgespannte Decken ohne schlaffe Bewehrung

Pre‐stressed slabs without reinforcing steel The method of pre‐stressing concrete members was developed in the 1930's and the positive effect of pre‐stressing on the reduction of deflections and cracks was recognised at the time. The impressive developments in bridge construction methods in the course of the 20^th century could only be achieved by employing pre‐stressing. The advantages of using the pre‐stressing method in building constructions are exploited in a few countries, e. g. Australia and USA but not so much and not to the same extent in European countries. This paper shows, that it is feasible to build post‐tensioned slabs without reinforcing steel and points out a method that makes the construction of concrete slabs more economical.     

Erneuerung der abgehängten Decke in der Olympiaschwimmhalle in München

Renovation of the suspended roof of the Olympic Swimming Pool in Munich. The Olympic Swimming Pool being part of the Munich Olympic Facilities was built for the 1972 Olympic Summer Games. After more than 30 years the structural integrity and the thermal behaviour of the suspended membrane ceiling reached a critical stage. The following article describes the history of the suspended roof. It covers architectural, structural and thermal demands in its original state as well as the redesign and execution of the new, recently finished membrane ceiling.     

Chip-based multimodal super-resolution microscopy for histological investigations of cryopreserved tissue sections

Histology involves the observation of structural features in tissues using a microscope. While diffraction-limited optical microscopes are commonly used in hist...     

Preparation and characterization of copper indium diselenide films by electroless deposition

The preparation of copper indium diselenide (CIS) films by electroless deposition technique is reported. The films have been deposited on molybdenum substrates. The deposition bath consisted of aqueous solutions of copper chloride, indium chloride, selenous acid and lithium chloride. The pH of the bath was adjusted to 2.2 by adding dilute HCl. The Mo substrate was short-circuited with the aluminum counter electrode for the electroless deposition. The films have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and optical spectroscopy. The results indicate that reasonable quality CIS films can be grown by simple electroless deposition process followed by recrystallization in selenium atmosphere.