Latency of auditory brain-stem responses and otoacoustic emissions using tone-burst stimuli

A comparison of the latency of auditory brain-stem responses (ABR) and evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) has led to an interpretation for the travel of transients in the peripheral auditory system that is consistent with both sets of data. The "cochlear echo" theory for the origin of the EOAE indicates that the latency of a particular frequency component back to the ear canal should be twice the forward latency of its characteristic place in the cochlea. The latency of wave V of the ABR to tone-burst stimuli can be described as the sum of two components: (1) a component that varies with intensity and frequency in an orderly and predictable manner and (2) a component that is independent of both intensity and frequency. Because the EOAE data can be predicted by taking twice the value of component (1) of the ABR latency, this component is interpreted to be due to mechanical travel through the cochlea. A consequence of this interpretation is that the remaining neural component of the ABR latency must be relatively independent of frequency and intensity.     

BINDING, EXCITATION ENERGY TRANSFER AND PHOTOSENSITIZATION IN GRISEOFULVIN-DNA MIXTURES

Abstract— The weak and reversible binding of the antifungal drug, griseofulvin (GF), to calf thymus DNA has been demonstrated by difference spectroscopy and the quenching of the fluorescence of GF by DNA observed. The value of K _n was determined to be 800 M ^-1by fluorescence quenching titration. Adenosine and guanosine also exhibit difference spectra with GF and quench GF fluorescence indicating that they may be the site of both binding and energy transfer. The in vitro photosensitization of DNA by griseofulvin is shown to occur. It is proposed that the clinically observed in vivo photosensitizing action of griseofulvin may result from binding followed by excitation energy transfer and that this may also be important in the antifungal activity of the drug.     

Total luminescence of organic molecules of petrochemical interest : Naphthalene,phenanthrene and 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene

Total emission, phosphoroscopically resolved emission, excitation and mean lifetime in the excited triplet state were measured for three organic molecules of petrochemical interest in EPA rigid glass at 77° K. Fluorescence was also measured at room temperature in n-heptane. Methods for the determination of these three molecules in individual solutions are presented and compared with known methods by absorption spectroscopy. An attempt was made to quantify a blend of the three components by luminescence techniques.     

The correlation of NMR chemical shifts with EHT calculated electron densities for 3-pyridinols

The NMR spectra of a series of five 3-pyridinols in dioxane and dimethyl sulfoxide have been correlated with electron densities calculated by the Extended Hückel MO method. The data were found to fit a straight line of the form y=ax+b. The effects of hydrogen-bonding between pyridinol molecules on the correlation have been considered, and they have been estimated quantitatively for 6-methyl-3-pyridinol via Extended Hückel Calculations on a hydrogen-bonded model.

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Zusammenfassung Die Kernresonanzspektren von fünf 3-Pyridinolen in Dioxan und Dimethylsulfoxyd wurden mit den Elektronendichten aus dem erweiterten Hückelverfahren korreliert, und zwar ergibt sich eine lineare Beziehung. Der Einfluß von intermolekularen Wasserstoffbrücken ist für einen Fall (die 6-Methyl-Verbindung) durch EHT-Rechnungen festgestellt und in den übrigen Fällen geschätzt worden.

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Résumé Les spectres NMR d'une série de cinq 3-pyridinols dans le dioxane et le diméthyle-sulfoxyde ont été corrélés avec les densités électroniques calculées par la méthode de Hückel Etendue. Les données se placent correctement sur une droite y=ax+b. Les effets de la liaison hydrogène entre les molécules de pyridinol ont été envisagés et estimés quantitativement pour le 6-méthyl-3-pyridinol par des calculs EHT sur un modèle à liaison hydrogène.

     

Evidence of upward spread of suppression in DPOAE measurements

Measurements of DPOAE level in the presence of a suppressor were used to describe a pattern that is qualitatively similar to population studies in the auditory nerve and to behavioral studies of upward spread of masking. DPOAEs were measured in the presence of a suppressor (f3) fixed at either 2.1 or 4.2 kHz, and set to each of seven levels (L3) from 20 to 80 dB SPL. In the presence of a fixed f3 and L3 combination, f2 was varied from about 1 oct below to at least 1/2 oct above f3, while L2 was set to each of 6 values (20-70 dB SPL). L1 was set according to the equation L1 = 0.4L2 + 39 [Janssen et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103, 3418-3430 (1998)]. At each L2, L1 combination, DPOAE level was measured in a control condition in which no suppressor was presented. Data were converted into decrements (the amount of suppression, in dB) by subtracting the DPOAE level in the presence of each suppressor from the DPOAE level in the corresponding control condition. Plots of DPOAE decrements as a function of f2 showed maximum suppression when f2 approximately = f3. As L3 increased, the suppressive effect spread more towards higher f2 frequencies, with less spread towards lower frequencies relative to f3. DPOAE decrement versus L3 functions had steeper slopes when f2 > f3, compared to the slopes when f2 < f3. These data are consistent with other findings that have shown that response growth for a characteristic place (CP) or frequency (CF) depends on the relation between CP or CF and driver frequency, with steeper slopes when driver frequency is less than CF and shallower slopes when driver frequency is greater than CF. For a fixed amount of suppression (3 dB), L3 and L2 varied nearly linearly for conditions in which f3 approximately = f2, but grew more rapidly for conditions in which f3 < f2, reflecting the basal spread of excitation to the suppressor. The present data are similar in form to the results observed in population studies from the auditory nerve of lower animals and in behavioral masking studies in humans.     

Large-amplitude plasma wave generation with a high-intensity short-pulse beat wave

A short-pulse laser beat wave scheme for advanced particle accelerator applications is examined. A short, intense (3-ps, >10(18)-W cm(-2)) two-frequency laser pulse is produced by use of a modified chirped-pulse amplification scheme and is shown to produce relativistic plasma waves during interactions with low-density plasmas. The generation of plasma waves was observed by measurement of forward Raman scattering. Resonance was found to occur at an electron density many times that expected, owing to ponderomotive displacement of plasma within the focal region.     

Cochlear compression estimates from measurements of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions

Evidence of the compressive growth of basilar-membrane displacement can be seen in distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) levels measured as a function of stimulus level. When the levels of the two stimulus tones (f1 and f2) are related by the formula L1 = 39 dB + 0.4 x L2 [Kummer et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 103, 3431-3444 (1998)] the shape of the function relating DPOAE level to L2 is similar (up to an L2 of 70 dB SPL) to the classic Fletcher and Munson [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 9, 1-10 (1933)] loudness function when plotted on a logarithmic scale. Explicit estimates of compression have been derived based on recent DPOAE measurements from the laboratory. If DPOAE growth rate is defined as the slope of the DPOAE I/O function (in dB/dB), then a cogent definition of compression is the reciprocal of the growth rate. In humans with normal hearing, compression varies from about 1 at threshold to about 4 at 70 dB SPL. With hearing loss, compression is still about 1 at threshold, but grows more slowly above threshold. Median DPOAE I/O data from ears with normal hearing, mild loss, and moderate loss are each well fit by log functions. When the I/O function is logarithmic, then the corresponding compression is a linear function of stimulus level. Evidence of cochlear compression also exists in DPOAE suppression tuning curves, which indicate the level of a third stimulus tone (f3) that reduces DPOAE level by 3 dB. All three stimulus tones generate compressive growth within the cochlea; however, only the relative compression (RC) of the primary and suppressor responses is observable in DPOAE suppression data. An RC value of 1 indicates that the cochlear responses to the primary and suppressor components grow at the same rate. In normal ears, RC rises to 4, when f3 is an octave below f2. The similarities between DPOAE and loudness compression estimates suggest the possibility of predicting loudness growth from DPOAEs; however, intersubject variability makes such predictions difficult at this time.     

Photophysics and X-ray structure of crystalline 2-aminopurine.

To explore the effect of intermolecular interactions on the photophysics of 2-aminopurine (2AP) in a well-defined environment, we have investigated the fluorescence properties of single 2AP crystals, having determined their X-ray structure. In the crystal, 2AP is subject to base-stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions similar to those found in DNA. The crystal shows dual fluorescence: pi-stacked molecules in the bulk of the lattice have redshifted excitation and emission spectra, while molecules at defect sites have spectra similar to those of 2AP in solution or in DNA. Heterogeneous intermolecular interactions in the crystal give rise to multiexponential fluorescence decay characteristics similar to those observed for 2AP-labelled DNA. The presence of about 13 % of the 7H tautomer in the crystal confirms that 9H-7H tautomerisation of 2AP occurs in the ground state. Long-wavelength excitation of a 2AP-labelled oligonucleotide duplex produced redshifted emission similar to that observed in the crystal, indicating that pi-stacking interaction of 2AP with nucleobases gives rise to a low energy excited state.     

Temporal aspects of suppression in distortion-product otoacoustic emissions

This study examined the time course of cochlear suppression using a tone-burst suppressor to measure decrement of distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). Seven normal-hearing subjects with ages ranging from 19 to 28 yr participated in the study. Each subject had audiometric thresholds ≤ 15 dB HL [re ANSI (2004) Specifications for Audiometers] for standard octave and inter-octave frequencies from 0.25 to 8 kHz. DPOAEs were elicited by primary tones with f(2)?= 4.0 kHz and f(1)?= 3.333 kHz (f(2)/f(1)?= 1.2). For the f(2), L(2) combination, suppression was measured for three suppressor frequencies: One suppressor below f(2) (3.834 kHz) and two above f(2) (4.166 and 4.282 kHz) at three levels (55, 60, and 65 dB SPL). DPOAE decrement as a function of L(3) for the tone-burst suppressor was similar to decrements obtained with longer duration suppressors. Onset- and setoff- latencies were ≤ 4 ms, in agreement with previous physiological findings in auditory-nerve fiber studies that suggest suppression results from a nearly instantaneous compression of the waveform. Persistence of suppression was absent for the below-frequency suppressor (f(3)?= 3.834 kHz) and was ≤ 3 ms for the two above-frequency suppressors (f(3)?= 4.166 and 4.282 kHz).