A parametric feature extraction and classification strategy for brain-computer interfacing.

Parametric modeling strategies are explored in conjunction with linear discriminant analysis for use in an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based brain-computer interface (BCI). A left/right self-paced typing exercise is analyzed by extending the usual autoregressive (AR) model for EEG feature extraction with an AR with exogenous input (ARX) model for combined filtering and feature extraction. The ensemble averaged Bereitschafts potential (an event related potential preceding the onset of movement) forms the exogenous signal input to the ARX model. Based on trials with six subjects, the ARX case of modeling both the signal and noise was found to be considerably more effective than modeling the noise alone (common in BCI systems) with the AR method yielding a classification accuracy of 52.8+/-4.8% and the ARX method an accuracy of 79.1+/-3.9 % across subjects. The results suggest a role for ARX-based feature extraction in BCIs based on evoked and event-related potentials.     

The contribution of texture contrasts and combinations to food acceptance across cultures

Texture has long been considered an important attribute for food acceptance. However, which specific textural characteristics contribute to overall acceptance of a food is not well understood. It has been suggested that texture contrasts and combinations are a universal feature in giving foods a desirable texture, yet this notion is largely based upon anecdotal data. This study uses multiple survey research methods to assess the importance of texture contrast and combinations across cultures (Poland, U.S.A., and Singapore). Participants (N = 288) completed a survey that included overt measures of food texture contrast importance as well as free response questions regarding texture. The overall importance of texture for food liking was not different across the populations. However, the participants from Singapore and Poland gave more importance to a desirable food having multiple textures than the U.S.A. cohort. When looking at free responses, participants were twice as likely to mention combinations (multiple textures) with a texture contrast when describing foods they liked, in comparison to foods they disliked. This was observed across all three cultures. However, the type and quantity of texture terms used within combinations were different among cultures. For instance, Singaporeans enjoyed more texturally diverse food combinations than the other two cultures. These findings highlight the importance of texture contrasts and combinations in three distinct cultures.     

Visual spatial attention control in an independent brain-computer interface

This paper presents a novel brain computer interface (BCI) design employing visual evoked potential (VEP) modulations in a paradigm involving no dependency on peripheral muscles or nerves. The system utilizes electrophysiological correlates of visual spatial attention mechanisms, the self-regulation of which is naturally developed through continuous application in everyday life. An interface involving real-time biofeedback is described, demonstrating reduced training time in comparison to existing BCIs based on self-regulation paradigms. Subjects were cued to covertly attend to a sequence of letters superimposed on a flicker stimulus in one visual field while ignoring a similar stimulus of a different flicker frequency in the opposite visual field. Classification of left/right spatial attention is achieved by extracting steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs) elicited by the stimuli. Six out of eleven physically and neurologically healthy subjects demonstrate reliable control in binary decision-making, achieving at least 75% correct selections in at least one of only five sessions, each of approximately 12-min duration. The highest-performing subject achieved over 90% correct selections in each of four sessions. This independent BCI may provide a new method of real-time interaction for those with little or no peripheral control, with the added advantage of requiring only brief training.     

Lifetime wine drinking,changing attitudes and associations with current wine consumption: A pilot study indicating how experience may drive current behaviour

The ability to measure past experience of alcoholic beverage consumption would be useful in order to understand current wine consumption. A pilot study, using a recently validated tool, measured the lifetime experiences of 51 wine consumers. Linear increases in wine consumption over the course of a wine consumer’s life, contrasting with beer and spirits consumption, and patterns of changing attitudes were found. Correspondence analysis found associations between differing attitudes and consumption patterns. Results encourage application of the tool with representative samples of consumers. Results from the current and future studies will enable an understanding of the long-term development of preferences that may be useful for marketing strategies.     

Determination of electrophoretic mobility distributions through the analysis of individual mitochondrial events by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection.

Here we report on the analysis of mitochondrial preparations by capillary electrophoresis with postcolumn laser-induced fluorescence detection. Individual mitochondria are detected by fluorescent labeling with the mitochondrion-selective probe, 10-nonyl acridine orange. Interactions between the organelles and the capillary walls are controlled by derivatization of the capillaries with poly(acryloylaminopropanol). As expected from the presence of charged groups in their outer membranes, isolated mitochondria have intrinsic electrophoretic mobilities. This property may be influenced by variations in size, morphology, membrane composition, and damage caused during the isolation procedure. The mobility distributions of mitochondria isolated from NS1 and CHO cells ranged from -1.2 x 10(-4) to -4.3 x 10(-4) cm2 V(-1) s(-1) and -0.8 x 10(-4) to -4.2 x 10(-4) cm2 V(-1) s(-1), respectively. Furthermore, there seems to be no correlation between the density of the mitochondrial fraction and the resultant electrophoretic mobility distribution. These results suggest a new method for characterization of organelle fractions and for counting individual organelles.     

Fourier Mellin transform characterisation in the automotive environment

This paper discusses the problem of reliably estimating motion in video sequences. A core issue in this application is the registration of successive images in an image sequence of a dynamic scene. The paper examines the core characteristics of the Fourier Mellin transform (FMT) when applied to this task in the automotive environment. Of particular interest are the transformational, scale and rotational invariances of the transform. The objective of the paper is to examine the behaviour of the algorithm under wide variations in these three parameters. Images from a range of automotive scenarios are considered in this evaluation. Our main contributions are the experimental evaluations carried out on various images with a range of known translations, rotations and scale changes. The results of the experimental process allow the determination of the relationship between the transformation of image patches, and the resulting level of error in motion estimation. This helps to inform the application of the FMT, when it is effective, and where its limitations occur. The results of the experimental process described in this paper may be applied in several ways in practice. The applicability of the method may be extended through the addition of environmental variables from external sensors, i.e. CAN bus data, GPS or spatial feature ego-motion. This allows adaptive execution of the transform.     

对应框架:欧洲与中国资格的一一对应(英文)

Both Ireland and the European Union use a framework of qualifications as a means of charting and describing the level of ability demonstrated by individuals in specific domains.Europe's frameworks are outcome based,identifying individuals by the level of ability they have demonstrated to assessors,and as such provide a useful means of mapping pathways through education for students,across a whole career or lifetime.Additionally,the framework serves as a communication tool,whereby institutions,students,employers or indeed countries can use a common vocabulary to discuss the achievements and abilities of individuals.We describe in brief the qualifications frameworks used in both China and Europe,and ask whether the European Qualifications Framework could serve as a communication tool between China and Europe.     

Online adaptive feature weighting for spatiogram-bank tracking

In this paper, we introduce a new adaptive feature weighting framework for multi-modal tracking. Our proposed tracker can compactly and efficiently handle multiple sources of tracking data, such as colour, brightness, gradient orientation and thermal infrared, and adaptively weight the sources based on their reliability for tracking. The adaptive weight selection mechanism is inspired by the state-of-the-art Collins tracker, but instead of treating the tracked object as a bag of features, it takes advantage of the spatial information using a global object model. Additionally, our tracker incorporates scale into the weight selection process and is shown to outperform the Collins tracker in an extensive video evaluation.     

Human gait assessment using a 3D marker-less multimodal motion capture system

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Gait analysis is the measurement, processing and systematic interpretation of biomechanical parameters that characterize human locomotion. It supports the...