Seizure warning algorithm based on optimization and nonlinear dynamics

There is growing evidence that temporal lobe seizures are preceded by a preictal transition, characterized by a gradual dynamical change from asymptomatic interictal state to seizure. We herein report the first prospective analysis of the online automated algorithm for detecting the preictal transition in ongoing EEG signals. Such, the algorithm constitutes a seizure warning system. The algorithm estimates STL_max, a measure of the order or disorder of the signal, of EEG signals recorded from individual electrode sites. The optimization techniques were employed to select critical brain electrode sites that exhibit the preictal transition for the warning of epileptic seizures. Specifically, a quadratically constrained quadratic 0-1 programming problem is formulated to identify critical electrode sites. The automated seizure warning algorithm was tested in continuous, long-term EEG recordings obtained from 5 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. For individual patient, we use the first half of seizures to train the parameter settings, which is evaluated by ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve analysis. With the best parameter setting, the algorithm applied to all cases predicted an average of 91.7% of seizures with an average false prediction rate of 0.196 per hour. These results indicate that it may be possible to develop automated seizure warning devices for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.Mathematics Subject Classification (1991):20E28, 20G40, 20C20     

Factors for generalized absolute Cesàro summability

In this paper, a known theorem dealing with ${|C,\alpha |}_k$ summability factors has been generalized for ${|C,\alpha ,\beta |}_k$ summability factors.     

Extended proper orthogonal decomposition: a tool to analyse correlated events in turbulent flows

A tool to analyse correlated events in turbulent flows based on an extended proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) is proposed in this paper. A general definition of extended POD modes is presented and their properties are demonstrated. If the initial POD analysis in a spatio-temporal domain S concerns, for example, velocity—the concept of extended modes can be applied to study the correlation of any physical quantity in any domain with the projection of the velocity field on POD modes in S. The link with particular associations of POD and linear stochastic estimation (LSE) recently proposed is demonstrated at the end of the paper. The method is believed to provide a valuable tool to extend the well-documented POD analysis of eddy structures in turbulent flows, for example, in boundary layers or free shear flows. If extended modes are velocity modes, spatial and temporal interactions between eddy structures can be detected and studied. The rapid development of experimental diagnostic techniques now permit measurements of the concentration in the domain, the velocity of a dispersed phase in the domain or the static pressure at the boundary together with the fluid velocity field. Using this method we are then able to extract objectively the link between the representative groups of velocity modes and the correlated part of the concentration, particle motion or pressure signals.     

Chemical reactions at surfaces: Application of the reaction ensamble monte carlo method

The Monte Carlo simulation method introduced by Smith and Triska [J. Chem. Phys.100 (1994) 3019] is extended to the case of a reacting fluid in contact with a hard wall. The fluid structure for both spherical and nonspherical reaction products is discussed for simple models of reacting hard spheres near a hard wall and near a wall interacting via Lennard-Jones (9,3) potential. In the latter case the investigated model assumes that the probability of a chemical reaction changes with a distance from the surface. It is shown that the applied technique is suitable for the study of reacting nonuniform fluids. This work is supported by KBN under the Grant No. 3 T09A 062 10.     

Acceleration of femtosecond pulses to superluminal velocities by Gouy phase shift

The phase and the group velocities are calculated in a three-dimensional neighbourhood of the focus of an aberration-free lens illuminated by a spatially Gaussian beam. The Gouy phase shift caused by the diffraction results in superluminal pulse propagation on the optical axis within the Rayleigh range.     

Evaluation of liquid-vapour density profiles of associating fluids: A density-functional approach

The structure of liquid-gas interface of associating Lennard-Jones particles is studied using the density-functional theory and the Monte Carlo simulation. The model with one bonding site per particle is considered. It is shown that the considered version of the density functional is quite successful in predicting the gas-liquid density profile.     

Intranasal irradiation with the xenon chloride ultraviolet B laser improves allergic rhinitis

We earlier reported that the 308 nm xenon chloride (XeCl) ultraviolet B (UVB) laser is highly effective for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. Since UVB irradiation has been shown to exert both local and systemic immunosuppression, we investigated the clinical efficacy of UVB irradiation in allergic rhinitis. In an open study, groups of patients with severe allergic rhinitis received intranasal irradiation with a 308 nm XeCl UVB excimer laser for two weeks. In the low-dose group (n=10), treatment was given twice weekly, starting with 0.25x the individual minimal erythema dose (MED), whereas patients in the medium-dose group (n=8) were treated four times weekly, starting with 0.4x MED. In each group, the dosage was gradually increased. Evaluation was based on the symptom scores. The effect of the XeCl laser on the skin prick test reaction was also studied. In the low-dose group, seven patients completed the study, and there was no improvement in the nasal symptoms. In the medium-dose group, the XeCl UVB irradiation significantly inhibited the rhinorrhoea, the sneezing, the nasal obstruction and the total nasal score (p<0.05). The XeCl UVB excimer laser also inhibited the allergen-induced skin prick test in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the XeCl UVB excimer laser might serve as a new therapeutic tool in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.