A dynamical model for generating synthetic electrocardiogram signals

A dynamical model based on three coupled ordinary differential equations is introduced which is capable of generating realistic synthetic electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The operator can specify the mean and standard deviation of the heart rate, the morphology of the PQRST cycle, and the power spectrum of the RR tachogram. In particular, both respiratory sinus arrhythmia at the high frequencies (HFs) and Mayer waves at the low frequencies (LFs) together with the LF/HF ratio are incorporated in the model. Much of the beat-to-beat variation in morphology and timing of the human ECG, including QT dispersion and R-peak amplitude modulation are shown to result. This model may be employed to assess biomedical signal processing techniques which are used to compute clinical statistics from the ECG.     

Finite Element Analysis of the Field Patterns of Higher-Order TE and TM Modes in Rectangular-Groove Guide

The field patterns of the different TE and TM modes in a rectangular-groove guide are analysed by finite element method. The electric field, magnetic field and energy distributions in the groove guide for the dominant TE mode, the lowest TM mode and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd higher-order TE,TM modes are presented. The results show that the low-loss characteristic of rectangular-groove guide seems unreliable. The results in this paper will be of benefit for us to understand the transmission characteristics of rectangular-groove guide, and will be of practical significance in designing groove guide components.     

Selection of network and learning parameters for an adaptive neural robotic control scheme

This paper presents the results of a study in the design of a neural network based adaptive robotic control scheme. The neural network used here is a two hidden layer feedforward network and the learning scheme is the well-known backpropagation algorithm. The neural network essentially provides the inverse of the plant and acts in conjunction with a standard PD controller in the feedback loop. The objective of the controller is to accurately control the end position of a single link manipulator in the presence of large payload variations, variations in the link length and also variations in the damping constant. Based on results of this study, guidelines are presented in selecting the number of neurons in the hidden layers and also the parameters for the learning scheme used for training the network. Results also indicate that increasing the number of neurons in the hidden layer will improve the convergence speed of learning scheme up to a certain limit beyond which the addition of neurons will cause oscillations and instability. Guidelines for selecting the proper learning rate, momentum and fast backpropagation constant that ensure stability and convergence are presented. Also, a relationship between the r.m.s. error and the number of iterations used in training the neural network is established.     

Dynamics of social interactive behavior: A computerized procedure for analyzing trends, patterns, and sequences.

Describes procedures that use detailed and sequential observations of monkey mother-infant interactive behavior to make a coordinated analysis of development. Computer programs provide for (1) organizing the behavioral data into frequency tables and developmental curves, (2) making analyses of variance and trends comparing groups of Ss, and (3) determining statistically the patterns of simultaneous behavior and the sequences of patterns that characterize individual Ss and groups. This treatment of a large volume of data is economically feasible. The computer programs have been generalized for application in various kinds of behavioral research. Analyses provide bases in concrete behavioral terms for deriving hypotheses about the dynamics of social behavior and development. This approach promises a more complete and developmental view of complex interactive processes. Greater sophistication in the use of computer capabilities and in the application of mathematical models and treatments can increase its effectiveness. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The open and closed mind: A review of dogmatism.

Research on Rokeach's concept of dogmatism is reviewed and structured into 10 areas: authoritarianism, the Dogmatism scale, personality, adjustment, group behavior, parent-child relationships, time perception, cognitive inconsistency, problem solving, and learning. Findings generally support the validity of Rokeach's concept, particularly as a generalized theory of authoritarianism independent of ideological content. Evidence suggests that a "dogmatic personality" style exists and may be readily identified. Limitations of the work done on dogmatism are noted and suggestions for specific areas of future research are made. (4 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Test burning: Part II.

A research program, sponsored by the Rip Van Winkle Foundation, concerned with mental health in rural areas was started in 1955. A few members of the Hudson Post of the American Legion opposed the organized "mental health movement." Local newspaper articles linked "mental health with 'world citizenship, one worldism, internationalism, communism, and socialism.'… Actually, the ruckus did not blow up until the period of data collection from the children was in its last week. Data from only three children were destroyed in compliance with the wishes of their parents." Details of the background and the problem are presented. From Psyc Abstracts 36:02:2AA37E. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between agreeing response set and social desirability.

3 measures of response set and 5 content scales were administered to 125 schizophrenic patients and 135 college Ss. The data indicate that the Overall Agreement Score which ostensibly measures an agreeing response set also contains negative social desirability (SD). SD18 also appears to have a naysaying element in it. The results also show that truly balanced measures of acquiescence and Social Desirability might very well be orthogonal to each other and support both sets of authors' contentions that their scales are not necessarily associated with elements of the other response set. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Mariner's "lay analyst."

Comments on A. S. Mariner's (see record 1967-08073-001) article about professional education in the mental health field and argues against Mariner's use of the term "lay analyst" to refer to nonmedical analysts. Mariner also underestimated the numerical strength and the vigor of such analysts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relation of formal thought disorder to the communication deficit in schizophrenics.

Evaluated 40 schizophrenics and 20 normals on a social communication task and on an individual cognitive task, both designed to reveal decentering deficits. It was hypothesized that the processes underlying the schizophrenic's thought disorder are formally similar to the processes involved in his deviant organization of social situations, specifically social communication, with both deficits to be interpreted in terms of faulty decentering. Schizophrenics manifested a decentering deficit on both the social communication (p     

Comment on "equivalence of information in concept identification."

Presents evidence to show that D. Arenberg's (see record 1971-03494-001) equivalence-of-information method is: (a) dependent upon a nonfixed solution procedure 1st used by J. S. Bruner, J. J. Goodnow, and G. A. Austin in their monograph A Study of Thinking; and (b) nonapplicable for stimulus universes where there are dimensions that are not binary. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)