Growth of masking as a measure of response growth in hearing-impaired listeners

Growth-of-masking functions were obtained from 19 normal and 5 hearing-impaired listeners using a simultaneous-masking paradigm. When masker and probe frequency are identical, the slope of masking approximates 1.0 for both normal-hearing and impaired listeners. For masker frequencies less than or greater than probe frequency, the slopes for impaired listeners are shallower than those of normals. These findings are consistent with previously reported physiological data (single-fiber rate versus level and AP masking functions) for animals with induced cochlear lesions. Results are discussed in terms of a potential masking technique to estimate the growth of response in normal and impaired ears.     

Temperature Dependence of the Threshold Current and the Lasing Wavelength in 1.3-μm GalnNAs/GaAs Single Quantum Well Laser Diode

Temperature stability of the threshold current and the lasing wavelength is investigated in a 1.3-μm GaInNAs/ GaAs single quantum-well laser. The measured characteristic-temperature was 88 K. The small wavelength shift per change in temperature of 0.35 nm/°C was obtained, indicating the superior lasing-wavelength stability. Therefore, it is shown experimentally that GaInNAs is very promising material for the fabrication of light source with excellent high-temperature performance for optical fiber communications.     

An integrated microfluidic device for influenza and other genetic analyses

An integrated microfluidic device capable of performing a variety of genetic assays has been developed as a step towards building systems for widespread dissemination. The device integrates fluidic and thermal components such as heaters, temperature sensors, and addressable valves to control two nanoliter reactors in series followed by an electrophoretic separation. This combination of components is suitable for a variety of genetic analyses. As an example, we have successfully identified sequence-specific hemagglutinin A subtype for the A/LA/1/87 strain of influenza virus. The device uses a compact design and mass production technologies, making it an attractive platform for a variety of widely disseminated applications.     

The constant-volume-velocity nature of hearing aids: conclusions based on computer simulations

In the literature there are several references which imply that various parts of a hearing aid are sources of constant volume velocity. Reported herein are the findings of an investigation of the validity of such statements. A computer scheme, referenced elsewhere, for modeling in situ hearing aids was utilized to test the constant-volume-velocity hypothesis. In particular, capabilities of the receiver, ear hook, and earmold tip to deliver constant volume velocity were investigated via a computer. To facilitate such an investigation, a universal receiver/earmold model was created. This model was broken down into "source" and "load"at three locations: the receive output, output of the ear hook, and medial tip of the earmold. At each location comparisons were made between computed values of source and load impedance. The constant-volume-velocity hypothesis was assumed to be valid for those cases where source impedance was much, much greater than load impedance. Plots of such impedances show that, for the cases investigated, this rarely occurred, except over certain frequency bands. With the exception of in-the-ear hearing aids, these results appear to contradict inferences made in the literature about the constant-volume-velocity nature of hearing aids.     

Analysis of CL-20 in environmental matrices: water and soil

Analytical techniques for the detection of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazatetracyclo(5.5.0.05,9.03,11)dodecane (CL-20) in water and soil are developed by adapting methods traditionally used for the analysis of nitroaromatics. CL-20 (a new explosives compound) is thermally labile, exhibits high polarity, and has low solubility in water. These constraints make the use of specialized sample handling, preparation, extraction, and analysis necessary. The ability to determine the concentrations of this new explosive compound in environmental matrices is helpful in understanding the environmental fate and effects of CL-20; understanding the physical, chemical, and biological fate of CL-20; and can be used in developing remediation technologies and determining their efficiency. The toxicity and mobility of new explosives in soil and groundwater are also of interest, and analytical techniques for quantitating CL-20 and its degradation products in soil and natural waters make these investigations possible.     

The nonaqueous,potentiometric titration of free hydrochloric acid in chloride-containing polymers

The thermal and/or catalytic degradation of chloride-containing polymers causes dehydrohalogenation which produces hydrochloric acid. A nonaqueous method has been developed for the termination of hydrochloric acid. The sample is dissolved in tetrahydrofuran and titrated potentiometrically with a standard tetrabutylammonium hydroxide solution in a 7.5% (V/V) aqueous tetrahydrofuran solution with a combination glass-calomel electrode. The method has a relative precision of ±3.7% at the 95% confidence limit and a sensitivity of 25 ppm HCI.     

CU(II) SENSITIZES pBR322 PLASMID DNA TO INACTIVATION BY UV-B(280–315 nm)

Abstract— Copper(II), in the presence of UV-B radiation(280–315 nm), can generate single-strand breaks in the sugar-phosphate backbone of pBR322 plasmid DNA. A low level of single-strand backbone breaks occurs in the presence of Cu(II) alone, but UV-B irradiation increases the rate by the more than 100-fold. Concomitant with the damage to the DNA backbone is a loss of transforming activity. Oxygen is required for generation of the single-strand breaks but not for the loss of transforming activity. A DNA glycosylase (Fpg), which participates in the repair of certain DNA nitrogenous base damage, does not repair plasmid DNA damaged by Cu(II). The hydroxyl radical scavenging compound DMSO is only somewhat effective at protecting the physical and biological properties of the DNA. These results with Cu(II) are compared to those obtained previously with pBR322 plasmid DNA in the presence of Fe(III) and UV-A.     

Quantification of tryptamine in brain using high-performance liquid chromatography

The concentration of endogenously formed tryptamine in central nervous system tissue was determined after extraction into ethyl acetate, purification on a weak cation-exchange resin and analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection. Final chromatographic separation of this indoleamine was achieved using a muBondapak C18 reversed-phase column under isocratic conditions. Using this method, the concentration of tryptamine in the whole brain of normal rats was found to be 0.60 +/- 0.06 ng/g of tissue, while pretreatment with dl-p-chlorophenylalanine, tranylcypromine and l-tryptophan increased the concentration to 96.7 +/- 21.9 ng/g.