Frequency resolution as a function of hearing threshold level and age

Frequency resolution ability was measured using a psychoacoustical tuning curve (PTC) or a notch-noise technique in two population samples. The first sample incorporated 1764 subjects with various degrees of sensorineural hearing impairment and ranging in age from 17-80 years. The second sample included 240 subjects aged between 50 and 75 years, carefully balanced in terms of impairment and age to avoid confounding between these two variables. In both samples, frequency resolution ability declined with increasing hearing threshold level (HTL), as measured by either method. In a subsample tested with both methods, the correlation between the two was only modest. After accounting for HTL, there was a minor dependence of frequency resolution on age, older subjects having poorer frequency resolution once HTL had been accounted for. No addition to the explained variance was achieved by taking sex, occupational group, or audiogram slope into account. Despite the documented reproducibility of the measures, much of the variance in the frequency resolution measurements remained unrelated to HTL or age.     

Hospital Waiting List Management Models

This paper describes work carried out with hospital consultants in Lancaster District Health Authority to develop and use computerized waiting list management models. The ‘what if?’ models produced have been found to be a very useful tool in the constructive debate about problems faced by consultants and managers, and of the options available to them.     

Improving resins for solid phase synthesis: incorporation of 1-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-4-vinyl-benzene

The preparation, characterisation and application of a series of non-grafted polystyrene (PS) resins containing a styrenic methoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) derivative is presented. These novel PS-MPEG resins were designed to balance swelling and solvation with improved handling. The monomer, 1-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-4-vinyl-benzene, contained an inert phenyl ether linkage designed to provide broad chemical compatibility and stability, yet imparting all the favourable properties of the PEG group into the new resin, whilst maintaining a high loading capacity. The synthetic performance of the new resins compared very favourably to those of TentaGel™, ArgoGel™ and aminomethyl PS.     

Models to estimate average route lengths in different geographical environments

This paper investigates how average route lengths for travelling salesman-type (TSP) journeys are influenced by the pattern and number of points visited. Two mathematical functions to estimate average route lengths are presented. The first function relates to average route lengths when n points are randomly located and the second to average route lengths when certain areas are more likely to be visited than the others, as defined by ‘demand surfaces’. Estimation of route lengths in this way can be a useful tool in the analysis of strategic and operational distribution problems, particularly in public services such as health and social services.     

Breakdown of stabilization of atoms interacting with intense, high-frequency laser pulses

An analysis of the influence of the magnetic field of an intense, high-frequency laser pulse on the stabilization of an atomic system is presented. We demonstrate that at relatively modest intensities the magnetic field can significantly alter the dynamics of the system. In particular, a breakdown of stabilization occurs, thereby restricting the intensity regime in which the atom is relatively stable against ionization. Counterpropagating pulses do not negate the detrimental effects of the magnetic field. We compare our quantum mechanical results with classical Monte Carlo simulations.