An algorithm for frontwidth reduction

This paper presents an algorithm for the automatic renumbering of elements prior to the solution by the frontal technique in finite element analysis. The method is based on a modified King's algorithm and is shown to be extremely efficient and consistent in obtaining a small frontwidth.     

Control of Fixation and Saccades in Humans With Chronic Lesions of Oculomotor Cortex.

To elucidate the dynamic interactions of cortical and subcortical oculomotor systems, the authors investigated reflexive and strategic control over fixation and saccades in patients with chronic unilateral lesions that involved either frontal or parietal cortex. They measured the effects of indicating the location of the forthcoming target and removing the fixation stimulus on the latencies of eye movements toward a peripheral visual target in 12 patients with frontal eye field (FEF) lesions, 9 patients with lesions restricted to parietal cortex, and 12 neurologically healthy controls. They found that chronic damage to FEF cortex disrupts cortico-collicular interactions, resulting in hypoactivity in the contralesional superior colliculus and a loss of strategic control over the intrinsic collicular circuits that regulate fixation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Frontal Polymerization of Metal-Containing Monomers: A Topical Review

The peculiarities of the frontal polymerization of metal-containing monomers containing acrylamide (AAm) complexes of transition metal nitrates, M(AAm) _x (H₂O) _y (NO₃)₂ (M=Co, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba), that are thermally initiated at 353–433K are considered. It was found that nitrogen oxides (e.g., NO₂, NO, N₂O), which were formed by partial oxidation of the nitrate groups, were able to initiate the polymerization reaction. The reaction front and a self-sustained thermal wave were determined by structural-chemical and energy factors. The application of a self-propagating frontal polymerization to synthesize metal-containing copolymers was demonstrated. The constants of reactivity of the monomers (r ₁=0.63, r ₂=0.70) confirmed the statistical character of the copolymers obtained. Frontal polymerization of the AAm complexes that were filled by silica or glass powder was studied. Adding fillers stabilized the front and resulted in spatially uniform products. By following the controlled thermolysis of the metallopolymer or the controlled change of frontal polymerization into the burning regime lead to the formation of metallopolymer nanocomposites. The products were metal (or metal oxides) nano-scale particles that were stabilized by the polymer matrix that is formed.     

The impact of selective amygdala, orbital frontal cortex, or hippocampal formation lesions on established social relationships in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Social dominance, personality ratings, and frequency, duration, and timing of social behaviors were measured pre- and postsurgically in 6 groups of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta), each consisting of 1 sham-operated control and 1 monkey each with a selective amygdala, hippocampal, or orbital frontal cortex lesion. Unlike previous reports, none of the operated groups showed changes in social dominance postsurgery, although changes in other measures varied by lesion site. Although sham-operated monkeys displayed heightened avoidant, anxious, and aggressive behaviors, those with hippocampal lesions also showed increased exploration and excitability, along with reduced responses to affiliative signals. Amygdala lesions yielded several personality changes that precluded positive social interactions (increased exploration and excitability, decreased affiliation and popularity) and altered responses to threatening social signals. By contrast, monkeys with orbital frontal lesions were involved in more aggressive interactions and responded differently to both affiliative and threatening signals. Although several findings differ from earlier nonhuman primate studies, they are largely in agreement with human data and emphasize the context-specific nature of social behavior studies. Interpretation of results in relation to cognitive processes mediated by each structure is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

两级递阶遗传算法优化稀布直线阵列

非均匀稀布直线阵列通常具有较高的旁瓣,为了降低旁瓣,对传统遗传算法进行改进用于阵列优化。为了更好的解决早熟收敛问题,利用两级递阶遗传算法THGA（Two-level Hierarchic Genetic Algorithm）在各阵列电流激励幅度相同的情况下对阵元位置进行了优化,最大旁瓣降低至-15．2498dB。在各阵列电流激励幅度不同的情况下,提出了“微调”“粗调”的思想对激励和阵元位置同时进行优化。仿真结果表明,对于一个孔径为50λ的25个阵元组成的稀布直线阵列,可获得了更低的旁瓣,最大旁辩可降至-22．5955dB。     

Female Gait Patterns in Shoes with Different Heel Heights

The gait patterns of twelve women were compared during walking in flat shoes and in shoes with high heels. In addition, four anthropometric measurements were recorded. Results showed that the wearing of high heels caused a significant decrease in step length and stride length, whereas there was a minimum change in the stride width and foot angle     

Let's inhibit our excitement: The relationships between Stroop, behavioral disinhibition, and the frontal lobes.

Objective: The Stroop (Stroop, 1935) is a frequently used neuropsychological test, with poor performance typically interpreted as indicative of disinhibition and frontal lobe damage. This study tested those interpretations by examining relationships between Stroop performance, behavioral disinhibition, and frontal lobe atrophy. Method: Participants were 112 patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, recruited through UCSF's Memory and Aging Center. Participants received comprehensive dementia evaluations including structural MRI, neuropsychological testing, and informant interviews. Freesurfer, a semiautomated parcellation program, was used to analyze 1.5T MRI scans. Behavioral disinhibition was measured using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (Cummings, 1997; Cummings et al., 1994) Disinhibition Scale. The sample (n = 112) mean age was 65.40 (SD = 8.60) years, education was 16.64 (SD = 2.54) years, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE; Folstein et al., 1975) was 26.63 (SD = 3.32). Hierarchical linear regressions were used for data analysis. Results: Controlling for age, MMSE, and color naming, Stroop performance was not significantly associated with disinhibition (β = 0.01, ΔR2 = 0.01, p = .29). Hierarchical regressions controlling for age, MMSE, color naming, intracranial volume, and temporal and parietal lobes, examined whether left or right hemisphere regions predict Stroop performance. Bilaterally, parietal lobe atrophy best predicted poorer Stroop (left: β = 0.0004, ΔR2 = 0.02, p = .002; right: β = 0.0004, ΔR2 = 0.02, p = .002). Of frontal regions, only dorsolateral prefrontal cortex atrophy predicted poorer Stroop (β = 0.001, ΔR2 = 0.01, p = .03); left and right anterior cingulate cortex atrophy predicted better Stroop (left: β = ?0.003, ΔR2 = 0.01, p = .02; right: β = ?0.004, ΔR2 = 0.01, p = .02). Conclusion: These findings suggest Stroop performance is a poor measure of behavioral disinhibition and frontal lobe atrophy even among a relatively high-risk population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

采用DFP-BFGS优化大间距子阵级非周期八角阵

采用DFP-BFGS变尺度算法优化分析了非周期八角阵的子阵中心位置,使栅瓣得到抑制,且阵列的辐射特性达到良好的效果。由于阵列辐射单元之间间距选取大于1个波长,天线方向图必定有栅瓣出现,所以,选择优化子阵中心位置,分散栅瓣能量,使周期八角阵变形为非周期八角阵布阵形式。若该阵列采用高效阵列单元,就可以实现有限相控扫描,且可以获得更低的副瓣要求。