Bio-Inspired Filter Banks for SSVEP-based Brain-Computer Interfaces

Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) have the potential to play a vital role in future healthcare technologies by providing an alternative way of communication and control. More specifically, steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) based BCIs have the advantage of higher accuracy and higher information transfer rate (ITR). In order to fully exploit the capabilities of such devices, it is necessary to understand the features of SSVEP and design the system considering its biological characteristics. This paper introduces bio-inspired filter banks (BIFB) for a novel SSVEP frequency detection method. It is known that SSVEP response to a flickering visual stimulus is frequency selective and gets weaker as the frequency of the stimuli increases. In the proposed approach, the gain and bandwidth of the filters are designed and tuned based on these characteristics while also incorporating harmonic SSVEP responses. This method not only improves the accuracy but also increases the available number of commands by allowing the use of stimuli frequencies elicit weak SSVEP responses. The BIFB method achieved reliable performance when tested on datasets available online and compared with two well-known SSVEP frequency detection methods, power spectral density analysis (PSDA) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA). The results show the potential of bio-inspired design which will be extended to include further SSVEP characteristic (e.g. time-domain waveform) for future SSVEP based BCIs.Comment: 2016 IEEE International Conference on Biomedical and Health Informatics (BHI

Neutralino Dark Matter in the Left-Right Supersymmetric Model

We study the neutralino sector of the left-right supersymmetric model. In addition to the possibilities available in the minimal supersymmetric model, the neutralino states can be superpartners of the U(1)_{B-L} gauge boson, the neutral SU(2)_R neutral gauge boson, or of the Higgs triplets. We analyze neutralino masses and determine the parameter regions for which the lightest neutralino can be one of the new pure states. We then calculate the relic density of the dark matter for each of these states and impose the constraints coming from the rho parameter, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, b -> s gamma, as well as general supersymmetric mass bounds. The lightest neutralino can be the bino, or the right-wino, or the neutral triplet higgsino, all of which have different couplings to the standard model particles from the usual neutralinos. A light bino satisfies all the experimental constraints and would be the preferred dark matter candidate for light supersymmetric scalar masses, while the right-wino would be favored by intermediate supersymmetric mass scales. The neutral triplet Higgs fermion satisfies the experimental bounds only in a small region of the parameter space, for intermediate to heavy supersymmetric scalar masses.Comment: 31 pages, 8 figures, one table and references added, to be published in Phys. Rev.

PECKING ORDER AND TRADE-OFF THEORIES IN FORMING CAPITAL STRUCTURE: AN IMPLEMENTATION IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY IN THE WEST MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF TURKEY

Increasing competitive environment’s pressure on business organizations during globalization process and after it prompts finance managers to be more cautious about business financing and establishing capital structure. Capital structure decisions change capital components of business organizations and thus become more important in terms of decreasing capital cost and increasing firm value. Modigliani’s and Miller’s approach towards capital structure are the most outstanding ones among the studies related to this issue. It seems that this approach was adopted intensely first and developed by other studies which were done later; even from its drawbacks new capital structure approaches have been suggested. Since bankruptcy and agency cost, arising from excessive borrowing, and asymmetric information problem affect capital cost and firm value, they should be taken into account at least as much as tax advantage provided by the loan for establishing capital structure. In this paper, we tried to form a frame for capital structure at first and then mentioned about trade-off and pecking order theories on establishing capital structure. In the next stage, we referred to previous studies in literature concerning approaches adopted for establishing business organisations’ capital structures. In the last part, a field research, relating to the importance of factors which are taken into account while establishing capital structure in textile businesses, was applied, and analyses regarding the determination of current situation of active business organizations were done. We also applied face-to-face survey method in this study, and the analysis was carried out by subjecting hypotheses to t-test and chi square test with the help of SPSS packaged software

Sneutrino Dark Matter: Symmetry Protection and Cosmic Ray Anomalies

We present an R-parity conserving model of sneutrino dark matter within a Higgs-philic U(1)' extension of the minimal supersymmetric standard model. In this theory, the mu parameter and light Dirac neutrino masses are generated naturally upon the breaking of the U(1)' gauge symmetry. The leptonic and hadronic decays of sneutrinos in this model, taken to be the lightest and next-to-lightest superpartners, allow for a natural fit to the recent results reported by the PAMELA experiment.Comment: Revised to match the published version; 11 pages (2 column format), 1 table, 6 figures, to appear in PR

Cost Benefit Analysis Of The Structures Designed For Alternative Seismic Hazard Levels

In this study, multiple performance objectives under the various earthquake hazard levels are investigated. In case of well defined earthquake hazard, as an alternative of classical earthquake resistant design principles, it is possible to design structures at different performances depending on structure's initial cost and economic life. In this study, costs of the structure with different performance levels are discussed.Current study is carried out on the reinforced concrete structures that are designed and analyzed for various seismic hazard levels. The aim is to determine, if the risk is released, whether the economic losses can be acceptable or not. In the study, cost of reinforced concrete ductile frames and dual systems that are designed for various seismic performances, are also compared for the economical aspects.To that end, in the first step 3, 5 and 8 storey frames and dual systems of several structures at Life Safety and Immediate Occupancy performance levels was designed for the earthquake hazards of 2% and 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The study reveals that if both direct and indirect effects of earthquake such as retrofitting costs, cost of temporary moving, temporary accommodation costs, cost of demolition and reconstructing the building, cost of damage to household goods and business disruption, social disturbance, are be taken into consideration, initial design performance level can be accepted as Immediate Occupancy performance level rather than Life Safety performance which is proposed current earthquake codes. The cost due to injuries and cost due to loss of lives are not included

Inter And Intra Row Competıtıon Effects On Growth And Yıeld Components Of Sunflower (Helıanthus Annuus L.) Under Raınfed Condıtıons

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oilseed plant with high adaptability to semi-arid conditions for reasonable vegetable oil production. The aim of this study was to determine the agronomic responses of Bosfora hybrid sunflower cultivar sown inter-row (50 and 70 cm) & intra-row (20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 cm) spacing in rainfed conditions. The field experiment was laid out on split plots in randomized blocks with three replications for two years (2016 and 2017). Inter row spacings were placed in the main plots and intra row spacings were placed in the subplots. Narrower inter-row (50 cm) and intra-row (20 and 25 cm) plant spacing caused taller plant development but decreased stem thickness, head diameter, thousand-seed weight, number of seeds in a head, dehulled seed ratio, seed weight of per plant, crude oil ratio, day to flowering and maturity. The highest yield (2759.9 kg ha(-1)) was obtained in 50x20 cm spacing while the lowest (1963.8 kg ha(-1)) yield was obtained in 70x20 cm spacing, more likely, due to the increase in the number of plants per unit area. The crude oil ratio was decreased by narrower spacing. However, oil yield was increased with seed yield (kg ha(-1)) and reached the highest amounts (1221.9 and 844.2 kg ha(-1)) in narrow row spacing, attributed to the plant population per unit area. To conclude that the highest seed yield was obtained from narrower (50x20 cm and 50x25 cm) seeding rates in rainy year (2016), while the highest yields were obtained from lowest plant population (70 x 20 and 70 x 25 cm) rates in dry year (2017)