Characterization of semiconductor laser frequency chirp based on signal distortion in dispersive optical fiber

In the paper, the simple method of laser chirp parameters estimation is presented. It is based on measuring time-domain distortions of chirped signal transmitted through dispersive fiber and finding laser chirp parameters by matching measured distortions to calculated ones. Experiments undertaken with 1.55 μm telecommunication grade distributed feedback (DFB) lasers and standard single-mode fiber are described, together with some practical remarks on measurement setup and main conclusions.     

Vowel Intelligibility in Classical Singing

Vowel intelligibility during singing is an important aspect of communication during performance. The intelligibility of isolated vowels sung by Western classically trained singers has been found to be relatively low, in fact, decreasing as pitch rises, and it is lower for women than for men. The lack of contextual cues significantly deteriorates vowel intelligibility. It was postulated in this study that the reduced intelligibility of isolated sung vowels may be partly from the vowels used by the singers in their daily vocalises. More specifically, if classically trained singers sang only a few American English vowels during their vocalises, their intelligibility for American English vowels would be less than for those classically trained singers who usually vocalize on most American English vowels. In this study, there were 21 subjects (15 women, 6 men), all Western classically trained performers as well as teachers of classical singing. They sang 11 words containing 11 different American English vowels, singing on two pitches a musical fifth apart. Subjects were divided into two groups, those who normally vocalize on 4, 5, or 6 vowels, and those who sing all 11 vowels during their daily vocalises. The sung words were cropped to isolate the vowels, and listening tapes were created. Two listening groups, four singing teachers and five speech-language pathologists, were asked to identify the vowels intended by the singers. Results suggest that singing fewer vowels during daily vocalises does not decrease intelligibility compared with singing the 11 American English vowels. Also, in general, vowel intelligibility was lower with the higher pitch, and vowels sung by the women were less intelligible than those sung by the men. Identification accuracy was about the same for the singing teacher listeners and the speech-language pathologist listeners except for the lower pitch, where the singing teachers were more accurate.     

Establishment of hybrid-derived offspring populations in the Ohomopterus ground beetles through unidirectional hybridization

An approach to deduce the mechanism of stabilization of the hybrid-derived populations in the Ohomopterus ground beetles has been made by comparative studies on the phylogenetic trees of the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. A phylogenetic tree based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal gene roughly reflects the relations of morphological species group, while mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (ND5) gene shows a considerable different topology on the tree; there exist several geographically-linked lineages, most of which consist of more than one species. These results suggest that the replacement of mitochondria has occurred widely in the Ohomopterus species. In most cases, hybridization is unidirectional, i.e., the species A (♂) hybridized with another species B (♀) and not vice versa, with accompanied replacement of mitochondria of A by those of B. The results also suggest that partial or complete occupation of the distribution territory by a hybrid-derived morphological species. The morphological appearance of the resultant hybrid-derivatives are recognized as that of the original species A. Emergence of a morphological new species from a hybrid-derived population has been exemplified.     

频率受随机过程调制的体系中的光谱扩散

通过在Bloch方程中增加描述对频率微扰的随机过程项{ω(t)},我们讨论了系统在窄谱带的光激发后的光谱扩散。特别是以下两种情况:1)如果ω以相同的概率变化为系综中的任一ω’,光谱是一个指数式衰减的定域峰和指数式增长的动态非均匀背底的叠加。2)如果ω'到ω的概率仅与|ω’-ω|有关,非定域峰随时间变宽。作为一个例子,我们讨论了频率受多个独立随机电报过程调制的系统中的光谱扩散。     

Average speaking fundamental frequency in soprano singers with and without symptoms of vocal attrition

Nineteen trained soprano singers aged 18–30 years vocalized tasks designed to assess average speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) during spontaneous speaking and reading. Vocal range and perceptual characteristics while singing with low intensity and high frequency were also assessed, and subjects completed a survey of vocal habits/symptoms. Recorded signals were digitized prior to being analyzed for SFF using the Kay Computerized Speech Lab program. Subjects were assigned to a normal voice or impaired voice group based on ratings of perceptual tasks and survey results. Data analysis showed group differences in mean SFF, no differences in vocal range, higher mean SFF values for reading than speaking, and 58% ability to perceive speaking in low pitch. The role of speaking in too low pitch as causal for vocal symptoms and need for voice classification differentiation in vocal performance studies are discussed.     

Interval parameter perturbation method for evaluating the bounds on natural frequencies of structures with interval parameters

For structural parameters with uncertainties, interval mathematics can, in the case where the probabilistic distribution density of uncertain variables is unavailable, deal with the influence of uncertainties in structural parameters on the response of structures. In order to evaluate the region containing natural frequencies of structures with interval parameters, the interval parameter perturbation method is presented in this paper. The advantage of the present method is its computational efficiency in evaluating the region containing natural frequencies. A numerical example is used to illustrate the efficiency of the method proposed. The project is supported by National Youth Natural Science Foundation of China and National Outstanding Youth Science Foundation of China.     

The Büttiker-Landauer model generalized

Büttiker and Landauer studied scattering off an oscillating rectangular barrier in order to shed light on the time aspects of tunneling. The expression for the traversal time resulting from this study is controversial. In addition, doubts have recently been expressed on technical aspects of their work. In an attempt to clarify these issues, we investigate a generalization of their model to arbitrary oscillating barriers,V(x, t)=V ₀(x)+V ₁(x)cos t. In the process, we confirm that Büttiker and Landauer's work is technically sound. However, we show, by several examples, that no direct general relation exists between the characteristic frequency of an oscillating barrier and the duration of the tunneling process. For a wide range of realistic parameters this characteristic frequency does not even exist.This paper is dedicated to E. G. D. Cohen.     

DNA体外缩合的研究进展

DNA缩合不仅是自然界常见的生理现象，也是非病毒载体介导基因转染的关键步骤。了解DNA体外缩合的性质与特征，将有助于设计出高效的非病毒转基因载体。本文综述了近十几年来以多价阳离子为缩合剂诱发的DNA体外缩合的研究进展，着重介绍了缩合的机理、过程、影响缩合的因素以及应用于转基因的最新成果。     

1-烃基-1-硅杂环丁烷的合成及其Si—H键伸缩振动频率与结构关系的研究

硅杂环丁烷在有机硅化学中是一类非常重要的小分子环系化合物。由于硅杂环丁烷和环丁烷的环张力相似,因而显示出较高的反应活性。例如能与某些试剂作用,生成开环产物;在光解或热解条件下,产生具有Si=C结构的高活性中间体,可用以合成多种有机硅化合物。     

TRANSFER OF FOREIGN GENES BY ELECTROPORATION AND THEIR EXPRESSION IN MAMMALIAN CELLS

Expression of foreign genes transferred into mammalian cells by electroporation has been studied. The pX1TK gene, pSV2Neo gene and pUCEJ oncogene have been introduced into MLTK-cells and NIH/3T3 cells, respectively. Stable transformation transient expression of TK gene by MLTK-cells as well as stable and malignant transformation of NIH/3T3 cells have been obtained. Transient expression frequency is about 80% and stable transformation frequency is about 10~(-4). Integration of foreign genes into the cellular genome was verified with molecular hybridization. Tumor development was observed after inoculation of transformed celts into nude mice.