Genetic programming of conventional features to detect seizure precursors

This paper presents an application of genetic programming (GP) to optimally select and fuse conventional features (C-features) for the detection of epileptic waveforms within intracranial electroencephalogram (IEEG) recordings that precede seizures, known as seizure precursors. Evidence suggests that seizure precursors may localize regions important to seizure generation on the IEEG and epilepsy treatment. However, current methods to detect epileptic precursors lack a sound approach to automatically select and combine C-features that best distinguish epileptic events from background, relying on visual review predominantly. This work suggests GP as an optimal alternative to create a single feature after evaluating the performance of a binary detector that uses: (1) genetically programmed features; (2) features selected via GP; (3) forward sequentially selected features; and (4) visually selected features. Results demonstrate that a detector with a genetically programmed feature outperforms the other three approaches, achieving over 78.5% positive predictive value, 83.5% sensitivity, and 93% specificity at the 95% level of confidence.     

Mapping and mining interictal pathological gamma (30-100 Hz) oscillations with clinical intracranial EEG in patients with epilepsy

Localizing an epileptic network is essential for guiding neurosurgery and antiepileptic medical devices as well as elucidating mechanisms that may explain seizure-generation and epilepsy. There is increasing evidence that pathological oscillations may be specific to diseased networks in patients with epilepsy and that these oscillations may be a key biomarker for generating and indentifying epileptic networks. We present a semi-automated method that detects, maps, and mines pathological gamma (30-100 Hz) oscillations (PGOs) in human epileptic brain to possibly localize epileptic networks. We apply the method to standard clinical iEEG (<100 Hz) with interictal PGOs and seizures from six patients with medically refractory epilepsy. We demonstrate that electrodes with consistent PGO discharges do not always coincide with clinically determined seizure onset zone (SOZ) electrodes but at times PGO-dense electrodes include secondary seizure-areas (SS) or even areas without seizures (NS). In 4/5 patients with epilepsy surgery, we observe poor (Engel Class 4) postsurgical outcomes and identify more PGO-activity in SS or NS than in SOZ. Additional studies are needed to further clarify the role of PGOs in epileptic brain.     

Grammatical Evolution for Features of Epileptic Oscillations in Clinical Intracranial Electroencephalograms

This paper presents grammatical evolution (GE) as an approach to select and combine features for detecting epileptic oscillations within clinical intracranial electroencephalogram (iEEG) recordings of patients with epilepsy. Clinical iEEG is used in preoperative evaluations of a patient who may have surgery to treat epileptic seizures. Literature suggests that pathological oscillations may indicate the region(s) of brain that cause epileptic seizures, which could be surgically removed for therapy. If this presumption is true, then the effectiveness of surgical treatment could depend on the effectiveness in pinpointing critically diseased brain, which in turn depends on the most accurate detection of pathological oscillations. Moreover, the accuracy of detecting pathological oscillations depends greatly on the selected feature(s) that must objectively distinguish epileptic events from average activity, a task that visual review is inevitably too subjective and insufficient to resolve. Consequently, this work suggests an automated algorithm that incorporates grammatical evolution (GE) to construct the most sufficient feature(s) to detect epileptic oscillations within the iEEG of a patient. We estimate the performance of GE relative to three alternative methods of selecting or combining features that distinguish an epileptic gamma (~65-95 Hz) oscillation from normal activity: forward sequential feature-selection, backward sequential feature-selection, and genetic programming. We demonstrate that a detector with a grammatically evolved feature exhibits a sensitivity and selectivity that is comparable to a previous detector with a genetically programmed feature, making GE a useful alternative to designing detectors.     

Anion currents and predicted glutamate flux through a neuronal glutamate transporter

Kinetic properties of a native, neuronal glutamate transporter were studied by using rapid applications of glutamate to outside-out patches excised from Purkinje neurons. Pulses of glutamate activated anion currents associated with the transporter that were weakly antagonized by the transporter antagonist kainate. In addition, kainate blocked a resting anion conductance observed in the absence of glutamate. Transporter currents in response to glutamate concentration jumps under a variety of conditions were used to construct a cyclic kinetic model of the transporter. The model simulates both the anion conductance and the glutamate flux through the transporter, thereby permitting several predictions regarding the dynamics of glutamate transport at the synapse. For example, the concentration-dependent binding rate of glutamate to the transporter is high, similar to binding rates suggested for ligand-gated glutamate receptors. At saturating glutamate concentrations, transporters cycle at a steady-state rate of 13/sec. Transporters are predicted to have a high efficiency; once bound, a glutamate molecule is more likely to be transported than to unbind. Physiological concentrations of internal sodium and glutamate significantly slow net transport. Finally, a fixed proportion of anion and glutamate flux is expected over a wide range of circumstances, providing theoretical support for using net charge flux to estimate the amount and time course of glutamate transport.     

Injection locking and mode selection in TEA-CO2laser oscillators

The injection of a master oscillator signal in a high-power TEA-CO2laser is analyzed and a dynamic model is formulated to represent the interaction. Based on the competition between the injected signal and the spontaneous emission, the model describes the transient evolution of the different field amplitudes and phases together with their effect on the inversion. A study over a wide range of injection levels and detuning frequencies clearly indicates three distinct regions of operation: a spontaneous oscillation zone, a mode-selection zone, and a frequency-locking zone. The main predictions of the model are compared with the results obtained with an experimental injection apparatus that assures adequate control of the TEA laser cavity length and that provides means for measuring the frequency of the output pulse. While the first two zones are directly observed, it is experimentally established that, at injection levels up to 5 W/cm², the frequency-locking zone does not exceed, as predicted, the 3-MHz resolution limit of the apparatus.     

Small sample properties of some parametric bioassay estimators of the LD90

Bioassay experiments are frequently conducted with small sample sizes, but the literature offers little comparative information for small sample sizes among the analytical procedures. A computer simulation study was performed to compare several traditional analytical procedures for estimating the LD90. These estimation procedures include probit analysis with maximum likelihood estimation, logit analysis with maximum likelihood, and minimum chi 2 estimation methods. The stimulation results indicate the conditions under which each analytical method appears most useful. Recommendations are tentatively made for minimally adequate designs for bioassay studies where an LD90 is to be estimated.     

SOME SIMULATIVE SERVICE TESTS FOR GLAZED BUILDING MATERIALS1

Several methods of freezing and thawing tests have been compared with each other and with the standard autoclave test with regard to type and rate of failure. Data indicate that the autoclave test alone is not sufficient to predict behavior of glazed ware in service, especially in the more severe climates. Glazes follow very definite laws as to rate of failure under conditions of freezing and thawing. Curves have been developed which indicate the nature of these laws very clearly. Considerable data have also been obtained on the effect of freezing on the porosity of brick and on the nature of failure of glazes.     

THE PRODUCTION OF PAVING BRICK BY THE DRY-PRESS PROCESS1

Comparative tests of stiff-mud and dry-pressed ware have been made and data are given showing the effect of pressure, moisture content, and evacuated molds.     

PRODUCTION OF A SALT GLAZE BY THE APPLICATION OF A SLIP TO THE WARE1

Glazed surfaces can be produced on the face of ware mode from practically any clay or shale having maturing temperature of cone 1 or more by coating the face of the ware with a slip containing sodium chloride. Various concentrations of salt in the slip have been used. Lower concentrations do not produce glazes but develop interesting surface and color effects. Metallic oxides may be used to produce variation in color of the glaze. This method shows promise as a means of securing salt glazes in kilns which have heretofore been considered impractical for salt-glazing purposes, although it has been developed only in the lahoratory stage at the present time. Sodium carbonate has also been used successfully.