Movement intention detection from autocorrelation of EEG for BCI

Movement intention detection is important for development of intuitive movement based Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI). Various complex oscillatory processes are involved in producing voluntary movement intention. In this paper, temporal dynamics of electroencephalography (EEG) associated with movement intention and execution were studied using autocorrelation. It was observed that the trend of decay of autocorrelation of EEG changes before and during the voluntary movement. A novel feature for movement intention detection was developed based on relaxation time of autocorrelation obtained by fitting exponential decay curve to the autocorrelation. This new single trial feature was used to classify voluntary finger tapping trials from resting state trials with peak accuracy of 76.7%. The performance of autocorrelation analysis was compared with Motor-Related Cortical Potentials (MRCP).

Two case studies of sulfate scavenging processes in the Amazon region (Rondonia)

The scavenging processes of chemical species have been previously studied with numerical modeling, in order to understand the gas and particulate matter intra-reservoir transferences. In this study, the atmospheric (RAMS) and scavenging (B.V.2) models were used, in order to simulate sulfate concentrations in rainwater using scavenging processes as well as the local atmospheric conditions obtained within the LBA Project in the State of Rondonia, during a dry-to-wet transition season. Two case studies were conducted. The RAMS atmospheric simulation of these events presented satisfactory results, showing the detailed microphysical processes of clouds in the Amazonian region. On the other hand, with cloud entrainments, observed values have been overestimated. Modeled sulfate rainwater concentration, using exponential decay and cloud heights of 16 km and no entrainments, presented the best results, reaching 97% of the observed value. The results, using shape parameter 5, are the best, improving the overall result. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Approach to Equilibrium for a Class of Random Quantum Models of Infinite Range

We consider random generalizations of a quantum model of infinite range introduced by Emch and Radin. The generalizations allow a neat extension from the class l (1) of absolutely summable lattice potentials to the optimal class l (2) of square summable potentials first considered by Khanin and Sinai and generalised by van Enter and van Hemmen. The approach to equilibrium in the case of a Gaussian distribution is proved to be faster than for a Bernoulli distribution for both short-range and long-range lattice potentials. While exponential decay to equilibrium is excluded in the nonrandom l (1) case, it is proved to occur for both short and long range potentials for Gaussian distributions, and for potentials of class l (2) in the Bernoulli case. Open problems are discussed.

Bootstrap percolation on homogeneous trees has 2 phase transitions

We study the threshold theta bootstrap percolation model on the homogeneous tree with degree b + 1, 2 <= theta <= b, and initial density p. It is known that there exists a nontrivial critical value for p, which we call p(f), such that a) for p > p(f), the final bootstrapped configuration is fully occupied for almost every initial configuration, and b) if p < p(f) , then for almost every initial configuration, the final bootstrapped configuration has density of occupied vertices less than 1. In this paper, we establish the existence of a distinct critical value for p, p(c), such that 0 < p(c) < p(f), with the following properties: 1) if p <= p(c), then for almost every initial configuration there is no infinite cluster of occupied vertices in the final bootstrapped configuration; 2) if p > p(c), then for almost every initial configuration there are infinite clusters of occupied vertices in the final bootstrapped configuration. Moreover, we show that 3) for p < p(c), the distribution of the occupied cluster size in the final bootstrapped configuration has an exponential tail; 4) at p = p(c), the expected occupied cluster size in the final bootstrapped configuration is infinite; 5) the probability of percolation of occupied vertices in the final bootstrapped configuration is continuous on [0, p(f)] and analytic on (p(c), p(f) ), admitting an analytic continuation from the right at p (c) and, only in the case theta = b, also from the left at p(f).

Photophysics and photostability of adenine in aqueous solution: A theoretical study

The sequential Monte Carlo/CASPT2 approach was employed to investigate deactivation and emission processes from the lowest-lying pi pi * and n pi * excited states of 9H-adenine in aqueous solution. It is found that conical intersections connecting the pi pi* and n pi* states with the ground state are also present in solution, whereas the barriers for the deactivation paths are significantly smaller on solvated conditions. The large destabilization of the n pi* state found in solution possibly prevents its involvement in the deactivation photophysics and explains the change from a bi- to a mono-exponential decay for the molecule in the gas phase and solution, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Acetylation of cellulose in LiCl-N,N-dimethylacetamide: first report on the correlation between the reaction efficiency and the aggregation number of dissolved cellulose

The acylation of three cellulose samples by acetic anhydride, Ac(2)O, in the solvent system LiCl/N,N-dimethylacetamide, DMAc (4 h, 110 A degrees C), has been revisited in order to investigate the dependence of the reaction efficiency on the structural characteristics of cellulose, and its aggregation in solution. The cellulose samples employed included microcrystalline, MCC; mercerized cotton linters, M-cotton, and mercerized sisal, M-sisal. The reaction efficiency expresses the relationship between the degree of substitution, DS, of the ester obtained, and the molar ratio Ac(2)O/AGU (anhydroglucose unit of the biopolymer); 100% efficiency means obtaining DS = 3 at Ac(2)O/AGU = 3. For all celluloses, the dependence of DS on Ac(2)O/AGU is described by an exponential decay equation: DS = DS(o) - Ae(-[(Ac2O/AGU)/B]); (A) and (B) are regression coefficients, and DS(o) is the calculated maximum degree of substitution, achieved under the conditions of each experiment. Values of (B) are clearly dependent on the cellulose employed: B((M-cotton)) > B((M-sisal)) > B((MCC)); they correlate qualitatively with the degree of polymerization of cellulose, and linearly with the aggregation number, N(agg), of the dissolved biopolymer, as calculated from static light scattering measurements: (B) = 1.709 + 0.034 N(agg). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the latter correlation; it shows the importance of the physical state of dissolved cellulose, and serves to explain, in part, the need to use distinct reaction conditions for MCC and fibrous celluloses, in particular Ac(2)O/AGU, time, temperature.

A family of autoregressive conditional duration models

This paper develops a family of autoregressive conditional duration (ACD) models that encompasses most specifications in the literature. The nesting relies on a Box-Cox transformation with shape parameter λ to the conditional duration process and a possibly asymmetric shocks impact curve. We establish conditions for the existence of higher-order moments, strict stationarity, geometric ergodicity and β-mixing property with exponential decay. We next derive moment recursion relations and the autocovariance function of the power λ of the duration process. Finally, we assess the practical usefulness of our family of ACD models using NYSE transactions data, with special attention to IBM price durations. The results warrant the extra flexibility provided either by the Box-Cox transformation or by the asymmetric response to shocks.

A family of autoregressive conditional duration models

This paper develops a family of autoregressive conditional duration (ACD) models that encompasses most specifications in the literature. The nesting relies on a Box-Cox transformation with shape parameter λ to the conditional duration process and a possibly asymmetric shocks impact curve. We establish conditions for the existence of higher-order moments, strict stationarity, geometric ergodicity and β-mixing property with exponential decay. We next derive moment recursion relations and the autocovariance function of the power λ of the duration process. Finally, we assess the practical usefulness of our family of ACD models using NYSE price duration data on the IBM stock. The results warrant the extra flexibility provided either by the Box-Cox transformation or by the asymmetric response to shocks.

Probabilidade implícita de default em debêntures do mercado brasileiro

O trabalho busca através de um exercício empírico, extrair as curvas de probabilidade implícita de default em debêntures brasileiras. A construção ocorre em duas etapas. O primeiro desafio é obter as estruturas a termo das debêntures brasileiras. Foi utilizada a revisão proposta por Diebold e Li (2006) do modelo de Nelson Siegel (1987) para construç o das ETTJs. A segunda etapa consiste em extrair a probabilidade de default utilizado a forma reduzida do modelo de Duffie e Singleton (1999). A fração de perda em caso de default foi considerada constante conforme estudo de Xu e Nencioni (2000). A taxa de decaimento também foi mantida constante conforme proposto por Diebold e Li (2006) e Araújo (2012). O exercício foi replicado para três datas distintas durante o ciclo de redução de juros no Brasil. Dentre os resultados desse estudo identificou-se que os agentes do mercado reduziram a probabilidade de default dos emissores durante esse período. A redução nos vértices mais curtos foi mais significativa do que em vértices mais longos.

Mineralização potencial e líquida de nitrogênio em solos

Os métodos de incubação de solo fornecem subsídios técnicos para a avaliação da mineralização e disponibilidade de N. Nesse sentido, os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar a mineralização potencial e líquida do N orgânico em solos e relacioná-la à disponibilidade de N para plantas. Amostras de 22 solos coletadas na camada arável (0 a 20 cm) foram submetidas à incubação em condições aeróbias a 35 °C, por 30 semanas, e anaeróbias a 40 °C, por sete dias, e utilizadas em experimento, em casa de vegetação, em que o milho foi a planta-teste. Durante a incubação por 30 semanas, houve aumento do N mineralizado na segunda semana, seguido de diminuição e estabilização a partir da quarta semana. Este comportamento resultou em ajuste do N mineralizado (Nm) ao modelo exponencial de decrescimento e do N mineralizado acumulado (Nmac) ao modelo exponencial de crescimento, a partir do qual foi possível calcular o N potencialmente mineralizável (N0). As quantidades de N0 refletiram a mineralização e a disponibilidade de N em longo prazo. Contudo, o Nmac apresentou maior grau de correlação com o N disponível medido pelas plantas (concentração de N e N acumulado na parte aérea) do que o N0, e valores altos de correlação foram obtidos já após duas semanas de incubação, o que indica que a modelagem matemática pode ser dispensada e o período de incubação pode ser encurtado. O N total do solo foi melhor índice da mineralização potencial e líquida de N orgânico do que a matéria orgânica do solo, principalmente em longo prazo. O método de incubação anaeróbia de curta duração pode ser utilizado para cálculo da estimativa do N0, e a subtração do N-NH4+ inicial não contribuiu para melhorar a estimativa da mineralização e da disponibilidade de N por meio deste método, o que o torna ainda mais simples e viável.

Waveshapes of continuing currents and properties of M-components in natural positive cloud-to-ground lightning

This work analyses the waveshapes of continuing currents and parameters of M-components in positive cloud-to-ground (CG) flashes through high-speed GPS synchronized videos. The dataset is composed of only long continuing currents (with duration longer than 40 ms) and was selected from more than 800 flashes recorded in Sao Jose dos Campos (45.864 degrees W, 23.215 degrees S) and Uruguaiana (29.806 degrees W, 57.005 degrees S) in Southeast and South of Brazil, respectively, during 2003 to 2007 summers. The videos are compared with data obtained by the Brazilian Lightning Location System (BrasilDAT) in order to determine the polarity of each flash and select only positive cases. There are only two studies of waveshapes of continuing currents in the literature. One is based on direct current measurements of triggered lightning, in which four different types of waveshapes were observed; and the other is based on measurements of luminosity variations in high-speed videos of CG negative lightning, in which besides the four types above mentioned two additional types were observed. The present work is an extension of the latter, using the same method but now applied to obtain the waveshapes of positive CG lightning. As far as the authors know, this is the first report on M-components in positive continuing currents. We also have used the luminosity-versus-time graphs to observe their occurrence and measure some parameters (duration, elapsed time and time between two successive M-components), whose statistics are presented and compared in detail to the data for negative flashes. We have plotted a histogram of the M-components elapsed time over the total duration of the continuing current for positive flashes, which presented an exponential decay (correlation coefficient: 0.83), similar to what has been observed for negative flashes. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Spin-Stabilized Spacecrafts: Analytical Attitude Propagation Using Magnetic Torques

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A transmission problem for the Timoshenko system

In this work we study a transmission problem for the model of beams developed by S.P. Timoshenko [10]. We consider the case of mixed material, that is, a part of the beam has friction and the other is purely elastic. We show that for this type of material, the dissipation produced by the frictional part is strong enough to produce exponential decay of the solution, no matter how small is its size. We use the method of energy to prove exponential decay for the solution.

Dressed-state approach to a simple radiating atom

We consider a system consisting of an atom in the dipole approximation, coupled to the electromagnetic field. Using recently introduced renormalized coordinates and dressed states, we give a non-perturbative solution to the atom radiation process. From this formalism a non-exponential decay law naturally emerges. However, at least for low frequencies and weak coupling, there is only a very small, practically non-detectable, deviation from a purely exponential decay, in agreement with all previous results in the literature. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Recurrence of particles in static and time varying oval billiards

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)