Infima and complements in the lattice of quasi-uniformities

We show that the infimum of any family of proximally symmetric quasi-uniformities is proximally symmetric, while the supremum of two proximally symmetric quasi-uniformities need not be proximally symmetric. On the other hand, the supremum of any family of transitive quasi-uniformities is transitive, while there are transitive quasi-uniformities whose infimum with their conjugate quasi-uniformity is not transitive. Moreover we present two examples that show that neither the supremum topology nor the infimum topology of two transitive topologies need be transitive. Finally, we prove that several operations one can perform on and between quasi-uniformities preserve the property of having a complement.     

Effects of short-term auditory deprivation on speech production in adult cochlear implant users.

Speech production parameters of three postlingually deafened adults who use cochlear implants were measured: after 24 h of auditory deprivation (which was achieved by turning the subject's speech processor off); after turning the speech processor back on; and after turning the speech processor off again. The measured parameters included vowel acoustics [F1, F2, F0, sound-pressure level (SPL), duration and H1-H2, the amplitude difference between the first two spectral harmonics, a correlate of breathiness] while reading word lists, and average airflow during the reading of passages. Changes in speech processor state (on-to-off or vice versa) were accompanied by numerous changes in speech production parameters. Many changes were in the direction of normalcy, and most were consistent with long-term speech production changes in the same subjects following activation of the processors of their cochlear implants [Perkell et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 91, 2961-2978 (1992)]. Changes in mean airflow were always accompanied by H1-H2 (breathiness) changes in the same direction, probably due to underlying changes in laryngeal posture. Some parameters (different combinations of SPL, F0, H1-H2 and formants for different subjects) showed very rapid changes when turning the speech processor on or off. Parameter changes were faster and more pronounced, however, when the speech processor was turned on than when it was turned off. The picture that emerges from the present study is consistent with a dual role for auditory feedback in speech production: long-term calibration of articulatory parameters as well as feedback mechanisms with relatively short time constants.     

Acidites et complexes des acides (alkyl-et aminoalkyl-) phosphoniques--III Alkylphosphonates substitues de calcium(II) et cuivre(II)

The stability constants of some phosphoric acids RPO(3)H(2) [R = CH(3), C(2)H(5), ClCH(2), Cl(2)CH, Cl(3)C, BrCH(2), Br(2)CH, BrCH(2)CH(2), ICH(2), HOCH(2), (CH(3))(3)N + CH2] and their complexes RPO(3)Ca, RPO(3)Cu, RPO(3)Cu(OH)(-) have been determined by multiparametric refinement of potentiometric titration data obtained at 25 degrees , in a 0.1M potassium nitrate medium. Linear relationships are obtained between stability and acidity constants. Formation of five-membered rings stabilize the hydroxymethylphosphonates. Conversely, cation repulsion by the permanent positive charge reduces the stabilities of complexes with trimethylammoniummethylphosphonic acid.     

Nanosensors based on responsive polymer brushes and gold nanoparticle enhanced transmission surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

Swelling (and shrinking) of poly(2-vinylpyridine), P2VP, polymer brushes, caused by pH changes, could be readily monitored by transmission surface plasmon resonance, T-SPR, spectroscopy. Gold nanoparticles attached to the P2VP polymer brushes dramatically enhanced the pH-induced shift in the T-SPR absorption spectra. (A 50 nm shift of the absorption maximum of the T-SPR spectrum of the supporting gold nanoislands was observed upon changing the pH from 5.0 to 2.0, corresponding to a swelling of the polymer brushes from 8.1 +/- 0.7 to 24.0 +/- 2.0 nm. Same shift in the opposite direction was observed upon changing the pH from 2.0 to 5.0.)     

X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR studies of a germanium binuclear complex

A compound formulated as (C4H12N2)[Ge2(pmida)2(OH)2] x 4 H2O (where pmida(4-) = N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetate and C4H12N2(2+) = piperazinedium cation), containing the anionic [Ge2(pmida)2(OH)2]2- complex, has been synthesised by the hydrothermal approach and its structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Several high-resolution solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR techniques, in particular two-dimensional 1H-X(13C,31P) heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) and 1H-1H homonuclear correlation (HOMCOR) experiments incorporating a frequency-switched Lee-Goldburg (FS-LG) decoupling scheme, have been employed for the first time in such a material. Using these tools in tandem affords an excellent general approach to study the structure of other inorganic-organic hybrids. We assigned the NMR resonances with the help of C...H and P...H internuclear distances obtained through systematic statistical analyses of the crystallographic data. The compound was further characterised by powder X-ray diffraction techniques, IR and Raman spectroscopy, and by elemental and thermal analyses (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry).     

Pre-resonance Raman intensity studies of TCNQ and TCNQ−

Pre-resonance Raman spectra have been obtained for TCNQ and LiTCNQ in acetonitrile solution using an Ar⁺—Kr⁺ laser and a tunable rhodamine 6G dye laser. Using the theory of Albrecht and Hutley, we have calculated frequency factors for the intensity variations for several symmetric vibrational modes of each molecule. The observed spectra for TCNQ and LiTCNQ with violet, blue, and green excitation give evidence for B-type resonance enhancement due to vibronic mixing between at least two violet and ultraviolet transitions. The Raman spectra for LiTCNQ with yellow, orange, and red excitation show A-type enhancement due to a single electronic excitation in the near infrared.