Asymptotically Optimal Blind Separation of Parametric Gaussian Sources

Blind single-channel source separation is a long-standing machine learning and signal processing problem. Traditional blind source separation (BSS) algorithms were proposed to solve this task utilizing multiple signal constraints. Generative adversarial network (GAN) are free from statistical constraints and samples, but the role of adversarial training in the task of BSS has not been fully demonstrated. Therefore, a new separation network model that enables to learn the known separated signal distribution from the stepwise fine estimation of the unknown mixture distribution was presented in this paper, and a self-attention mechanism was introduced to solve the problem of the blurring details of the generated image by the generator which preserves image details in the process of image separation. Compared with the existing single-channel blind source separation algorithm based on generative adversarial network-neural egg separation (NES), the detailed information of this new separation algorithm is more prominent, and the source signal in the mixed image has been separated more effectively, and has better separation performance than the classic blind source separation algorithms.

The paper presents an approach able to separate the vibrations induced by underground traffic from the vibrations induced by other sources, based on second order blind identification (SOBI) algorithm. The signals recorded in different locations of an instrumented building are mixed signals from different internal and external vibration sources. The blind source separation algorithm will estimate the independent vibration sources, as well as the mixing model of them. This model can be used to determine the contribution of each source in different measurement points, to evaluate the effect of vibration sources and their potential for building damage. The approach has been tested in simulation and on a building subject to different traffic forms.

The modal identification framework known as Blind Modal Identification (BMID) has recently been developed, drawing on techniques from Blind Source Separation (BSS). Therein, a BSS algorithm known as Second Order Blind Identification (SOBI) was adapted to solve the Modal IDentification (MID) problem. One of the drawbacks of the technique is that the number of modes identified must be less than the number of sensors used to measure the vibration of the equipment or structure. In this paper, an extension of the BMID method is presented for the underdetermined case, where the number of sensors is less than the number of modes to be identified. The analytic signal formed from measured vibration data is formed and the Second Order Blind Identification of Underdetermined Mixtures (SOBIUM) algorithm is applied to estimate the complex-valued modes and modal response autocorrelation functions. The natural frequencies and modal damping ratios are then estimated from the corresponding modal auto spectral density functions using a simple Single Degree Of Freedom (SDOF), frequency-domain method. Theoretical limitations on the number of modes identified given the number of sensors are provided. The method is demonstrated using a simulated six DOF mass-spring-dashpot system excited by white noise, where displacement at four of the six DOF is measured. All six modes are successfully identified using data from only four sensors. The method is also applied to a more realistic simulation of ambient building vibration. Seven modes in the bandwidth of interest are successfully identified using acceleration data from only five DOF. In both examples, the identified modal parameters (natural frequencies, mode shapes, modal damping ratios) are compared to the analytical parameters and are demonstrated to be of good quality.

A new output only modal analysis method is developed in this paper. This method uses continuous wavelet transform to modify a popular blind source separation algorithm, second order blind identification (SOBI). The wavelet modified SOBI (WMSOBI) method replaces original time domain signal with selected time-frequency domain wavelet coefficients, which overcomes the shortcomings of SOBI. Both numerical and experimental studies on bridge models are carried out when there are limited number of sensors. Identified modal properties from WMSOBI are analyzed and compared with fast Fourier transform (FFT), SOBI and eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA). The comparison shows WMSOBI can identify as many results as FFT and ERA. Further case study of structural health monitoring (SHM) on an arch bridge verifies the capability to detect damages by combining WMSOBI with incomplete flexibility difference method.

The motivating vision behind Sandia's MENTOR/PAL LDRD project has been that of systems which use real-time psychophysiological data to support and enhance human performance, both individually and of groups. Relevant and significant psychophysiological data being a necessary prerequisite to such systems, this LDRD has focused on identifying and refining such signals. The project has focused in particular on EEG (electroencephalogram) data as a promising candidate signal because it (potentially) provides a broad window on brain activity with relatively low cost and logistical constraints. We report here on two analyses performed on EEG data collected in this project using the SOBI (Second Order Blind Identification) algorithm to identify two independent sources of brain activity: one in the frontal lobe and one in the occipital. The first study looks at directional influences between the two components, while the second study looks at inferring gender based upon the frontal component.

In the recent past, blind source separation (BSS) algorithms using multivariate statistical data analysis technique have been successfully used for source identification and separation in the field of biomedical and statistical signal processing. Recently numbers of different BSS techniques have been developed. With BSS methods being the feasible method for source separation and decomposition of biosignals, it is important to compare the different techniques and determine the most suitable method for the applications. This paper presents the performance of five BSS algorithms (SOBI, TDSEP, FastICA, JADE and Infomax) for decomposition of sEMG to identify subtle finger movements. It is observed that BSS algorithms based on second-order statistics (SOBI and TDSEP) gives better performance compared to algorithms based on higher-order statistics (FastICA, JADE and infomax).

We propose a new algorithm for blind source separation (BSS), in which independent component analysis (ICA) and beamforming are combined to resolve the low-convergence problem through optimization in ICA. The proposed method consists of the following three parts: (1) frequency-domain ICA with direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation; (2) null beamforming based on the estimated DOA; (3) integration of (1) and (2) based on the algorithm diversity in both iteration and frequency domain. The inverse of the mixing matrix obtained by ICA is temporally substituted by the matrix based on null beamforming through iterative optimization, and the temporal alternation between ICA and beamforming can realize fast- and high-convergence optimization. The results of the signal separation experiments reveal that the signal separation performance of the proposed algorithm is superior to that of the conventional ICA-based BSS method, even under reverberant conditions.

Blind Source Separation (BSS) algorithms based on the noise-free model are not applicable when the Signal Noise Ratio (SNR) is low. In view of this situation, our solution is to denoise the mixtures with additive white Gaussian noise firstly, and then use BSS algorithms. This paper proposes a piecewise Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) thresholding approach to denoise mixtures with strong noise. This approach can distinguish the noise-dominated IMFs and signal-dominated IMFs, and then respectively apply different thresholdings methods. Simulation results show that compared with the Wavelet denoising, the proposed approach has a better denoising performance, and can remarkably enhance the separation performance of BSS algorithms, especially when the signal SNR is low.

A new blind image source separation algorithm based on feedback sparse component analysis

This paper describes a novel modification to the well-known natural gradient or INFOMAX algorithm for blind source separation that largely mitigates its divergence problems. The modified algorithm imposes an a posteriori scalar gradient constraint that adds little computational complexity to the algorithm and exhibits fast convergence and excellent performance for fixed step size values that are largely independent of input signal magnitudes and initial separation matrix estimates. Evaluation of the approach for the separation of instantaneous and convolutive source mixtures using both time- and frequency-domain implementations shows its excellent separation behavior.

This work presents the application of Blind Source Separation (BSS) Algorithms on Dual-band IR Spectrogram for breast cancer detection and tracing the effect of long-term chemotherapy for breast-cancer patients. We take Dual-band IR Spectrogram's RAW Data as an input to the BSS algorithms. Integrated into the back-end processor of a Dual-band IR Sensor and Readout Circuit Platform, our Improved Neighbor-based BSS algorithm operated on Dual-band IR Spectrogram provides a better breast cancer detection. Considering the demarcating degree, our Improved Neighbor-based BSS algorithm is approximately 15% better than other algorithms. As to the correctness rate, our improved algorithm approximately increases 10% compared with other algorithms.

In the context of relating specific brain functions to specific brain structures, second-order blind identification (SOBI) is one of the blind source separation algorithms that have been validated extensively in the data domain of human high-density EEG. Here we provide a review of empirical data that (1) validate the claim that SOBI is capable of separating correlated neuronal sources from each other and from typical noise sources present during an EEG experiment; (2) demonstrating the range of experimental conditions under which SOBI is able to recover functionally and neuroanatomically meaningful sources; (3) demonstrating cross- as well as within-subjects (cross-time) reliability of SOBI-recovered sources; (4) demonstrating efficiency of SOBI separation of neuronal sources. We conclude that SOBI may offer neuroscientists as well as clinicians a cost-effective way to image the dynamics of brain activity in terms of signals originating from specific brain regions using the widely available EEG recording technique.KeywordsBSSICASOBISource modelingSource localizationSingle-trial analysishuman EEGMultichannel

Recently, blind source separation (BSS) methods have gained significant attention in the area of signal processing. Independent component analysis (ICA) and second-order blind identification (SOBI) are two popular BSS methods that have been applied to modal identification of mechanical and structural systems. Published results by several researchers have shown that ICA performs satisfactorily for systems with very low levels of structural damping, for example, for damping ratios of the order of 1% critical. For practical structural applications with higher levels of damping, methods based on SOBI have shown significant improvement over ICA methods. However, traditional SOBI methods suffer when nonstationary sources are present, such as those that occur during earthquakes and other transient excitations. In this paper, a new technique based on SOBI, called the modified cross-correlation method, is proposed to address these shortcomings. The conditions in which the problem of structural system identification can be posed as a BSS problem is also discussed. The results of simulation described in terms of identified natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios are presented for the cases of synthetic wind and recorded earthquake excitations. The results of identification show that the proposed method achieves better performance over traditional ICA and SOBI methods. Both experimental and large-scale structural simulation results are included to demonstrate the applicability of the newly proposed method to structural identification problems.

Blind source separation (BSS) algorithms are often categorized as either narrowband or broadband algorithms depending on whether their respective cost functions aim at individual DFT bins or the entire broadband signal. In this contribution, we present comparable general natural gradient-based formulations of both concepts based on the TRINICON framework. As a distinctive feature, narrowband algorithms imply an internal permutation and scaling problem. We show that the common DOA estimation-based methods for aligning the permutations effectively rely on geometric a-priori knowledge, and we explain why they need to be complemented by additional repair mechanisms for robust BSS. The latter can already be viewed as approximations of the generic TRINICON broadband algorithm. As a conclusion, we propose to always use a generic broadband algorithm as a starting point for the design of new BSS algorithms.

This letter proposes a novel method of a highly secured time domain cryptosystem to provide security for mobile voice calls. Using a modified version of blind source separation (BSS) algorithms, the proposed cryptosystem provides a complete solution for highly secured communications between the two ends of any voice call without the need for modifying the existing mobile network infrastructure. Moreover, this system can be easily connected to any type of mobile equipment. To overcome the bandwidth expansion usually associated with BSS algorithms, the proposed system uses a modified key generation process to limit the bandwidth occupied by the encrypted speech signal. Evaluation of the modified encryption and decryption algorithms proved the validity of these changes for speech signals in terms of signal to noise ratio and residual intelligibility.