Spectral interference in a binaural detection task

Several investigations suggest that sensitivity to changes in interaural disparities within select spectral regions may be degraded by the presence of energy at other, even remote, spectral regions. This study assessed whether similar degradations would be observed in an MLD paradigm. Detection thresholds were measured for NoSo and NoS pi. The signal, an 800-Hz tone (100-ms), was presented in continuous, broadband noise. Thresholds were also measured in the presence of a 400-Hz tone (the interferer) presented with an interaural phase disparity of 180 degrees and gated simultaneously with the signal or presented continuously. NoS pi thresholds increased by about 7 dB with the gated interferer at 80 dB SPL. Smaller increases were observed with lower levels of the interferer. Presenting the interferer continuously reduced substantially its effect. NoSo thresholds were affected only slightly by the interferer. Reversing the roles of the signal and interferer (400-Hz signal, 800-Hz interferer) led to smaller, but reliable degradations in performance. Diotic interferers had, in general, smaller effects on performance. The possible relation between the mechanisms that produce interference and those that foster an ability to segregate sources of sound is discussed.     

Feedback stabilization of snap-through buckling in a preloaded two-bar linkage with hysteresis

We study a linearly damped preloaded two-bar linkage that exhibits hysteresis due to the presence of multiple attracting equilibria. The dynamics at the unstable equilibrium, through which a snap-through buckle occurs, are not linearizable due to a solution-dependent singularity. We stabilize the unstable equilibrium using two distinct non-linear controllers. The feedback-linearization controller requires knowledge of the linkage parameters, whereas the robust version of the intrinsic non-linear proportional-derivative controller requires only an upper bound on the stiffness.     

Sur l'intégration des équations aux dérivées partielles du type elliptique

Sans résumé     

The relation between collinear and 3-D dynamical calculations of reactive molecular collisions

One important difference between the results of collinear and of full 3-D dynamical computations arises from the difference in the available volume in phase space (1-D versus 3-D) which can be termed a “dimensionality-bias”. Correction for this phase space factor allows for a more realistic estimate of reaction cross sections, branching ratios and 3-D product energy distributions from collinear calculations.     

The UV-laser excited resonance raman spectrum of the I3 ion

Solutions of cesium tri-iodide and potassium iodide and iodine in water show a strong resonance Raman effect of the I⁻₃ ion when excited by the ultraviolet lines at 3638 and 3511 Å of an argon ion laser, High intensity overtone progressions of the “symmetric” vibration ν_i were observed. This progression allows the confirmation of the presence of the I⁻₃ ion in iodine-methanol solutions.