Independent Component Analysis using a Geometric Approach

For the problem of independent component analysis we propose an alternative solution to determining $n$ independent sources from $n$ channels using a geometric approach. The resulting algorithm inherits many properties of the then applicable simplex algorithm, namely computational tractability even in high dimensions ($n geq 100$), and yields demixing estimates comparable to standard algorithms (e.g. FastICA) for extremely small sample sizes ($N = 50$). Our results are corroborated by demixing of a real world ECG data set from the PhysioNet database

Kognitiv-psychoedukative Gruppenintervention bei stationären Patienten mit depressiven Erkrankungen – Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Pilotstudie

Background: Psychoeducational interventions that provide disorder-related information in a goal-oriented and structured manner have been integrated in psychiatric and psychotherapeutic approaches. The present cognitive psychoeducational group programme for inpatients with affective disorders is based on a multidimensional functional illness concept which covers aspects of vulnerability, stressors and coping strategies. It covers information about the disorder and its treatment options, building up rewarding activities, cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention. Materials und Methods: This programme was developed and modified at the University of Munich, Department of Psychiatry (LMU). A feasibility study was set up in a follow-up single group design and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were performed. A total of 231 patients participated in 46 groups. Results: 125 patients evaluated the effectiveness of the programme and its treatment strategies. The group programme was widely accepted among patients that were pharmacologically and psychotherapeutically treated: more than three quarters of the patients rated its contents to be informative, helpful and applicable to everyday living. Conclusions: Inpatients with affective disorders may already benefit from a structured group programme if it takes into account their cognitive and motivational deficits. The group leaders' didactic and psychotherapeutic strategies as well as the patients' exchanging ideas with each other play a central role. In the course of further investigations the programme was differentiated for patients with major depression or bipolar disorders

Towards upper bounding the variance of the demixing estimate of a geometry based Independent Component Analysis algorithm - Technical Report

For the Independent Component Analysis(ICA) algorithm (using a geometric approach) given in [1], we provide a probabilistic upper bound on the Euclidean error of constituents of the demixing matrix estimate resulting from unmixed input, under the condition that the algorithm converges to the global optimum, and derive an asymptotic bound on the expected squared error for large sample sizes from it. This error bound is found to be of order $O(N^{-2 + 2beta})$, where $N$ is the sample size and $beta in (0,1)$ is chosen arbitrarily. The result can be used to establish the asymptotic behaviour of the variance of the demixing matrix estimate for arbitrarily linearly mixed independent inputs

Bohrlochsonde zur Messung von Grundwasserströmungen auf der Basis der kontinuierlich thermischen Anregung

Zur in situ Messung von Richtung und Geschwindigkeit des Grundwasserstromes in nur einer Bohrung wurde ein Mikroflowmeter auf der Basis der kontinuierlich thermischen Anregung entwickelt. Das Messprinzip beruht auf der Deformation des Temperaturfeldes, das sich in Abhängigkeit vom antreibenden Gradienten des Grundwasserstromes mehr oder weniger stark unsymmetrisch als Wärmefahne im Messbereich der Sonde abbildet. Von Interesse sind dabei horizontale Fluidbewegungen mit sehr geringen Fließgeschwindigkeiten. Zur Realisierung der Aufgabenstellung werden sowohl eine Modellierung des Wärmetransports als auch Versuche zur Simulation von Strömungsvorgängen und Testmessungen im Gelände durchgeführt. Als Ergebnis der Abhandlung verschiedener numerischer Randwertprobleme erweist sich die Temperaturabhängigkeit der Fluiddichte als eine nicht zu vernachlässigende Einflussgröße, die in Form einer nach oben gerichteten Auftriebsströmung den Wärmetransport maßgebend bestimmt. Infolge der Überlagerung von freier und erzwungener Konvektion wird eine Mitführung von Wärme mit der Grundwasserbewegung gehemmt und die Ausbildung einer in Strömungsrichtung weisenden Wärmefahne drastisch eingeschränkt. Laborversuche bestätigen die am numerischen Modell gewonnenen Ergebnisse

Measurement and mathematical modelling of the heat transfer in the glass forming process, in consideration of the heat transfer coefficients and radiation influences

During forming, glass to mould contact temperatures are the significant factor for the final glass surface quality. For a good characterization of this contact condition the heat transfer by conduction and radiation needs to be described in detail. Α laboratory testing unit was set up to investigate the influence of radiation emitted by different glass composidons and the influence of different mould materials used during forming. To support the experimental results, heat transfer conditions and temperatures were modelled at given boundary conditions using the CFD-Code FLUENT software program applying discrete models. Measurement and modelling results show that the radiation influence on heat transfer is strongly dependent on the spectral absorption coefficient of the glass which affects heat flux densities and surface temperatures. Results show up to 15 % higher heat flux density for amber glass compared to flint glass. In addition, internal glass temperature distributions are strongly affected. If glass throughput, type of forming tools and mould cooling settings are carefully adapted to the optical characteristics of the glass, an optimal surface quality and physical strength can be achieved, which may lead to significant economic benefits. Due to the complex interactions of the parameters which influence glass to mould heat transfer mathematical modelling proves to be essential for future developments in forming technology

The Views of Mental Health Manager Towards the Use of a Family Work Model for Psychosis in Guangzhou, China

Family Interventions in Psychosis (FIP) have been promoted internationally but have been criticised for being based on western cultural models. This paper reports on a focus group study with 10 Integrated Mental Health Service Managers in Guangzhou, China using thematic analysis. Managers believed FIP might benefit families but identified potential difficulties due to (a) families avoiding services due to the ‘shame’ of mental illness (b) unrealistic expectations of services amongst families (c) deferral to ‘key decision-makers’ within families when discussing family issues with workers. The findings indicate that FIP work should focus on interaction between carers in the first instance with service users being introduced into sessions at a later date and that more attention needs to be given by the research community to how FIP may be adapted to cultural norms within China

Análise regional de Chapecó e de cinco cidades de influência

O presente estudo tem como objetivo servir de ponto de partida para pesquisas que visem trabalhar o desenvolvimento regional endógeno sustentável da Microrregião de Chapecó. Para isto, faz-se uso do Quociente Locacional (QL), medida de especialização bastante difundida na análise regional, na identificação de potencialidades e gargalos presentes na estrutura produtiva da região. A investigação dos QL’s dos macrossetores agropecuário, industrial e de serviços, na região e nos municípios que a compõem, permitem, juntamente com dados complementares, levantar hipóteses sobre aspectos econômicos e sociais, com vistas à identificação de potencialidades e gargalos regionais. Em termos metodológicos, este estudo realiza uma pesquisa exploratória a partir de dados obtidos por meio do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). A pesquisa não indica a centralidade da indústria, mas sinaliza o crescimento dos serviços auxiliares e de indústrias subsidiárias como base para produzir e comercializar eficientemente o produto de exportação da região analisada, a partir do desenvolvimento de indústrias locais para servirem ao consumo local e conduzir à ampliação da base de exportação

Psychoeducation: A Basic Psychotherapeutic Intervention for Patients With Schizophrenia and Their Families

Psychoeducation was originally conceived as a composite of numerous therapeutic elements within a complex family therapy intervention. Patients and their relatives were, by means of preliminary briefing concerning the illness, supposed to develop a fundamental understanding of the therapy and further be convinced to commit to more long-term involvement. Since the mid 1980s, psychoeducation in German-speaking countries has evolved into an independent therapeutic program with a focus on the didactically skillful communication of key information within the framework of a cognitive-behavioral approach. Through this, patients and their relatives should be empowered to understand and accept the illness and cope with it in a successful manner. Achievement of this basic-level competency is considered to constitute an “obligatory-exercise” program upon which additional “voluntary-exercise” programs such as individual behavioral therapy, self-assertiveness training, problem-solving training, communication training, and further family therapy interventions can be built. Psychoeducation looks to combine the factor of empowerment of the affected with scientifically founded treatment expertise in as efficient a manner as possible. A randomized multicenter study based in Munich showed that within a 2-year period such a program was related to a significant reduction in rehospitalization rates from 58% to 41% and also a shortening of intermittent days spent in hospital from 78 to 39 days. Psychoeducation, in the form of an obligatory-exercise program, should be made available to all patients suffering from a schizophrenic disorder and their families

Psychological and psychosocial interventions for treatment-resistant schizophrenia:a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Many patients with schizophrenia have symptoms that do not respond to antipsychotics. This condition is called treatment-resistant schizophrenia and has not received specific attention as opposed to general schizophrenia. Psychological and psychosocial interventions as an add-on treatment to pharmacotherapy could be useful, but their role and comparative efficacy to each other and to standard care in this population are not known. We investigated the efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of psychological and psychosocial interventions for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.METHODS: In this systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA), we searched for published and unpublished randomised controlled trials (RCTs) through a systematic database search in BIOSIS, CINAHL, Embase, LILACS, MEDLINE, PsychInfo, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for articles published from inception up to Jan 31, 2020. We also searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group registry for studies published from inception up to March 31, 2022, and PubMed and Cochrane CENTRAL for studies published from inception up to July 31, 2023. We included RCTs that included patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. The primary outcome was overall symptoms. We did random-effects pairwise meta-analyses and NMAs to calculate standardised mean differences (SMDs) or risk ratios with 95% CIs. No people with lived experience were involved throughout the research process. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO, CRD42022358696.FINDINGS: We identified 30 326 records, excluding 24 526 by title and abstract screening. 5762 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, of which 5540 were excluded for not meeting the eligibility criteria, and 222 reports corresponding to 60 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Of these, 52 RCTs with 5034 participants (1654 [33·2%] females and 3325 [66·8%] males with sex indicated) comparing 20 psychological and psychosocial interventions provided data for the NMA. Mean age of participants was 38·05 years (range 23·10-48·50). We aimed to collect ethnicity data, but they were scarcely reported. According to the quality of evidence, cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp; SMD -0·22, 95% CI -0·35 to -0·09, 35 trials), virtual reality intervention (SMD -0·41, -0·79 to -0·02, four trials), integrated intervention (SMD -0·70, -1·18 to -0·22, three trials), and music therapy (SMD -1·27, -1·83 to -0·70, one study) were more efficacious than standard care in reducing overall symptoms. No indication of publication bias was identified.INTERPRETATION: We provide robust findings that CBTp can reduce the overall symptoms of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia, and therefore clinicians can prioritise this intervention in their clinical practice. Other psychological and psychosocial interventions showed promising results but need further investigation.FUNDING: DAAD-ASFE.</p