A mechano-acoustic model of the effect of superior canal dehiscence on hearing in chinchilla

Superior canal dehiscence (SCD) is a pathological condition of the ear that can cause a conductive hearing loss. The effect of SCD (a hole in the bony wall of the superior semicircular canal) on chinchilla middle- and inner-ear mechanics is analyzed with a circuit model of the dehiscence. The model is used to predict the effect of dehiscence on auditory sensitivity and mechanics. These predictions are compared to previously published measurements of dehiscence related changes in chinchilla cochlear potential, middle-ear input admittance and stapes velocity. The comparisons show that the model predictions are both qualitatively and quantitatively similar to the physiological results for frequencies where physiologic data are available. The similarity supports the third-window hypothesis of the effect of superior canal dehiscence on auditory sensitivity and mechanics and provides the groundwork for the development of a model that predicts the effect of superior canal dehiscence syndrome on auditory sensitivity and mechanics in humans.     

Dose-dependent optically stimulated luminescence of synthetic quartz at room temperature

Physical conditions such as annealing temperature, duration of annealing, ionizing radiation, etc., play a significant role in the applications of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating as well as OSL dosimetry. Many efforts are made to understand the effect of these physical parameters on quartz specimens owing to its use in such applications. Such factors induce changes in OSL decay pattern. The definite correlation between color centers and luminescence sensitivity can be established on account of such pre-treatments to the specimen.The purpose of present investigations is to study the effect of ionizing radiation under identical physical conditions on OSL properties measured at room temperature. The shapes of decay curve and dose-response data are considered for this purpose. This study can reveal the changes in color centers in response to the pre-conditions to the specimen. It was found that the OSL decay remains slow and OSL properties change systematically with the rise in beta dose up to a critical dose; however, it changes the pattern when the beta exposure to the specimen was increased higher than the critical dose. This critical dose was found to be different for different temperature of annealing. The shape of decay curve up to the critical dose was also studied by considering the difference of OSL intensities between two successive durations from the observed OSL decay data. The results are explained based on the changes in available shallow traps during OSL measurement at room temperature with changes in pre-conditions to the specimens. The results also have been confirmed with the corresponding changes in ESR signals.     

Using sensitivity derivatives for design and parameter estimation in an atmospheric plasma discharge simulation

The problem of applying sensitivity analysis to a one-dimensional atmospheric radio frequency plasma discharge simulation is considered. A fluid simulation is used to model an atmospheric pressure radio frequency helium discharge with a small nitrogen impurity. Sensitivity derivatives are computed for the peak electron density with respect to physical inputs to the simulation. These derivatives are verified using several different methods to compute sensitivity derivatives. It is then demonstrated how sensitivity derivatives can be used within a design cycle to change these physical inputs so as to increase the peak electron density. It is also shown how sensitivity analysis can be used in conjunction with experimental data to obtain better estimates for rate and transport parameters. Finally, it is described how sensitivity analysis could be used to compute an upper bound on the uncertainty for results from a simulation.     

Analytical solution to a mode of mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication with mixed contact regimes: Part II—Considering the contact adhering layer effect in the inlet zone

The present paper presents the researches succeeding the first part of the paper [Y.B. Zhang, Analytical Solution to A Mode of Mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication with Mixed Contact Regimes: Part I—Without Consideration of Contact Adhering Layer in the Inlet Zone. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2006, Vol.117, (10.1016/j.molliq.2006.04.006)], which analyzed one mode of mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication with mixed contact regimes for the relatively heavy load and low rolling speed which make the conventional hydrodynamic lubrication occur in the inlet zone while make the physical adsorbed layer boundary lubrication occur in the Hertzian zone, based on the Newtonian fluid model. The present paper presents analysis to other two modes of mixed EHL with mixed contact regimes for relatively heavy loads, low rolling speeds and Newtonian fluids, where the conventional hydrodynamic lubrication, physical adsorbed layer boundary lubrication and oxidized chemical layer boundary lubrication can simultaneously occur in the inlet zone while the oxidized chemical layer boundary lubrication or the fresh metal-oxidized chemical boundary layer dry contact occur in the Hertzian zone, considering the contact adhering layer effect in the inlet zone. The present analysis is also extended to the first mode of mixed EHL with mixed contact regimes as analyzed in Part I [Y.B. Zhang, Analytical Solution to A Mode of Mixed elastohydrodynamic lubrication with Mixed Contact Regimes: Part I—Without Consideration of Contact Adhering Layer in the Inlet Zone. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2006, Vol.117, (10.1016/j.molliq.2006.04.006)] when the contact adhering layer effect in the inlet zone is considered. Results of contact pressures, film thicknesses, load partitions in the contact and characteristic rolling speeds for approaching to zero averaged hydrodynamic film thickness in the Hertzian zone are obtained from this analysis respectively as functions of the contact adhering layer thickness in the inlet zone. The results show that the contact adhering layer effect in the inlet zone in the present EHL is reduced with the increase of load; At large loads, this effect may be negligible; At small loads, it may be very significant. The results also show that at low rolling speeds, when the contact adhering layer effect in the inlet zone is considered, the load-carrying capacity of the present EHL contact is increased especially for small loads. This means that at low rolling speeds the contact adhering layer effect in the inlet zone may reduce the elastohydrodynamic lubrication deviation from classical EHL theory predictions especially for small loads.     

The radiated fields of focussing air-coupled ultrasonic phased arrays

This paper presents an investigation into the fields radiated into air by ultrasonic phased arrays under transient excitation. In particular, it includes a theoretical prediction of spatial variations in amplitude throughout the both the near-field and far-field of such arrays. The approach has been used to predict the result of phasing to produce a focus in air, which can be seen to be particularly effective in the near-field of the array. Interesting features are observed, which are then described in terms of the performance of both individual elements and the resulting array. It is shown how some elements of design can be used to improve performance in focussing. The predictions are compared to the results of experiments in air using electrostatic arrays, where good focussing could be achieved provided the appropriate design principles were followed. The approach has been developed specifically for use in air, but the results would also hold for modelling in certain medical arrays where a focussing requirement might be needed close to the array itself.     

Spatial unmasking of nearby pure-tone targets in a simulated anechoic environment

Detection thresholds were measured for different spatial configurations of 500- and 1000-Hz pure-tone targets and broadband maskers. Sources were simulated using individually measured head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) for source positions varying in both azimuth and distance. For the spatial configurations tested, thresholds ranged over 50 dB, primarily as a result of large changes in the target-to-masker ratio (TMR) with changes in target and masker locations. Intersubject differences in both HRTFs and in binaural sensitivity were large; however, the overall pattern of results was similar across subjects. As expected, detection thresholds were generally smaller when the target and masker were separated in azimuth than when they were at the same location. However, in some cases, azimuthal separation of target and masker yielded little change or even a small increase in detection threshold. Significant intersubject differences occurred as a result both of differences in monaural and binaural acoustic cues in the individualized HRTFs and of different binaural contributions to performance. Model predictions captured general trends in the pattern of spatial unmasking. However, subject-specific model predictions did not account for the observed individual differences in performance, even after taking into account individual differences in HRTF measurements and overall binaural sensitivity. These results suggest that individuals differ not only in their overall sensitivity to binaural cues, but also in how their binaural sensitivity varies with the spatial position of (and interaural differences in) the masker.     

Atomistic underpinnings for orientation selection in alloy dendritic growth

In dendritic solidification, growth morphologies often display a pronounced sensitivity to small changes in composition. To gain insight into the origins of this phenomenon, we undertake an atomistic calculation of the magnitude and anisotropy of the crystal-melt interfacial free energy in a model alloy system featuring no atomic size mismatch and relatively ideal solution thermodynamics. By comparing the results of these calculations with predictions from recent phase-field calculations, we demonstrate that alloying gives rise to changes in free-energy anisotropies that are substantial on the scale required to induce changes in growth orientations.     

Conformational studies of ethylene glycol and its two methyl ether derivatives

As a theoretical analysis of the conformational equilibria of ethylene glycol, methoxyethanol and dimethoxyethane, the energy of each stable conformational isomer (rotamer) of these molecules was calculated for various temperatures and solvent dielectric constants. Classical semi-empirical potential functions were used. Besides intrinsic potentials for rotation about single bonds, intramolecular dispersion and repulsive interaction, dipole-dipole interaction and hydrogen bonding energies were included. Interaction with the solvent was considered only in terms of a continuous dielectric medium interacting with the local dipoles and quadrupoles of the molecule. For each rotamer, the dihedral angles giving the lowest energy were determined. From the energies of each rotamer, Boltzmann distributions of populations were obtained, and total concentrations were calculated in various physically distinguishable states, e.g. those with and without internal hydrogen bonds, or those in which the central C-C bond takes a trans or a gauche conformation. It is shown that the equilibrium constants, K _HB and K _TG, for these two cases are not identical. While changes in the dielectric constant may alter strongly the geometries and energies of individual rotamers, their effect on the average geometries and on the two equilibrium constants is small. The same is true of temperature changes, and is due to the presence of several rotamers in each of the physical states considered. Thus the small temperature dependence of some observed physical properties is shown to be consistent with the distribution of molecules over several conformational states. In solution, the fraction of ethylene glycol molecules with two free OH groups (i.e. without an intramolecular hydrogen bond) is predicted to be at least 20 per cent. This shows that the presence of three-dimensional hydrogen-bonded structures in the liquid, which we propose, is possible in principle.     

线性聚焦和线性散焦效应对空间光孤子间相互作用的影响

考虑非均匀一维自聚焦介质的横向不均匀性,利用非线性薛定谔方程满足的守恒律给出了相邻空间孤子间隔的解析式,并对空间孤子之间的相互作用进行了数值模拟.结果表明,线形聚焦效应增强了空间孤子之间的相互作用;而线形散焦效应减弱了空间孤子之间的相互作用.当不考虑介质横向不均匀时,空间孤子之间发生周期性的碰撞.线性散焦效应使相邻空间孤子之间的间隔随传输距离发生周期性的变化,但孤子之间并不发生碰撞.线性聚焦效应使相邻空间孤子随传输距离发生周期性的碰撞,线性聚焦效应具有压制损耗使相邻空间孤子间隔变大的作用.     

Matrix analysis of neutron spin-echo

We describe the general action of a neutron spin-turn coil by a rotation matrix, and the nett action of a sequence of spin-turns is then evaluated as the product of the relevant matrices. In the ideal neutron spin-echo configuration, the spin-turn sequence used is shown to have a resultant action described by the unit matrix if there is only elastic scattering, so that an initially polarized beam is transmitted with unchanged polarization. This is spin-echo focussing. Measurement of changes in the final polarization then provides information on the sample dynamics.Spin-echo focussing permits high resolution to be coupled with a broad incident wavelength spread. We calculate in detail the effect of this polychromaticity on the spinturn coils involved, and present experimental confirmation. General spin-echo configurations are then considered. Finally, we take into account the effect of spin-flip scattering from spin-incoherent samples, and show that spin-flip effects may be decoupled from dynamic effects in the analysis of spin-echo intensity.The techniques evolved are relevant to both monochromatic and polychromatic spinecho spectrometry. Emphasis has been placed on practical aspects of establishing correct spin-turn conditions and analysing spectrometer response in terms of relative transmitted intensity.     

Modeling of filtered heat release for large eddy simulation of compressible infinitely fast reacting flows

A priori and a posteriori studies for large eddy simulation of the compressible turbulent infinitely fast reacting shear layer are presented. The filtered heat release appearing in the energy equation is unclosed and the accuracy of different models for the filtered scalar dissipation rate and the conditional filtered scalar dissipation rate of the mixture fraction in closing this term is analyzed. The effect of different closures of the subgrid transport of momentum, energy and scalars on the modeling of the filtered heat release via the resolved fields is also considered. Three explicit models of these subgrid fluxes are explored, each with an increasing level of reconstruction and all of them regularized by a Smagorinsky-type term. It is observed that a major part of the error in the prediction of the conditional filtered scalar dissipation comes from the unsatisfactory modeling of the filtered dissipation itself. The error can be substantial in the turbulent fluctuation (rms) of the dissipation fields. It is encouraging that all models give good predictions of the mean and rms density in a posteriori LES of this flow with realistic heat release corresponding to large density change. Although a posteriori results show a small sensitivity to subgrid modeling errors in the current problem, extinction–reignition phenomena involving finite-rate chemistry would demand more accurate modeling of the dissipation rates. A posteriori results also show that the resolved fields obtained with the approximate reconstruction using moments (ARM) agree better with the filtered direct numerical simulation since the level of reconstruction in the modeled subfilter fluxes is increased.     

Predicting surface vibration from underground railways through inhomogeneous soil

Noise and vibration from underground railways is a major source of disturbance to inhabitants near subways. To help designers meet noise and vibration limits, numerical models are used to understand vibration propagation from these underground railways. However, the models commonly assume the ground is homogeneous and neglect to include local variability in the soil properties. Such simplifying assumptions add a level of uncertainty to the predictions which is not well understood. The goal of the current paper is to quantify the effect of soil inhomogeneity on surface vibration. The thin-layer method (TLM) is suggested as an efficient and accurate means of simulating vibration from underground railways in arbitrarily layered half-spaces. Stochastic variability of the soil's elastic modulus is introduced using a K–L expansion; the modulus is assumed to have a log-normal distribution and a modified exponential covariance kernel. The effect of horizontal soil variability is investigated by comparing the stochastic results for soils varied only in the vertical direction to soils with 2D variability. Results suggest that local soil inhomogeneity can significantly affect surface velocity predictions; 90 percent confidence intervals showing 8 dB averages and peak values up to 12 dB are computed. This is a significant source of uncertainty and should be considered when using predictions from models assuming homogeneous soil properties. Furthermore, the effect of horizontal variability of the elastic modulus on the confidence interval appears to be negligible. This suggests that only vertical variation needs to be taken into account when modelling ground vibration from underground railways.     

Relaxation of the topological T1 process in a two-dimensional foam

The so-called topological T1 process, during which bubbles within a foam exchange neighbours is studied. The Durand and Stone model (Phys. Rev. Lett., 97, 226101 (2006)) describes the growth of a film that is newly created during the T1 process, and also the evolution of surfactant concentration on this newly created film. Here some characteristic features of the Durand and Stone model (not previously described by Durand and Stone) are elucidated. In particular it is shown that the surfactant concentration on the newly created film is predicted to undergo an extremely rapid initial evolution, which occurs long before the film itself approaches anywhere near its final equilibrium length. Associated with this, the predicted length of the newly created film tends to exhibit an extremely rapid acceleration early on in its growth. An intermediate asymptotic analysis is developed to explain the above model predictions, by focussing on the regime when the film is several times larger than its initial length, but still several times smaller than its final length. A physical explanation is offered for these predictions in terms of slippage between material points instantaneously at the end of the newly created film, and the evolving location of the film endpoint itself: this slippage implies surfactant being transferred onto the newly created film from neighbouring films, overwhelming the amount of surfactant initially present. The implications of these predictions for the likely observations in an experimental study of the T1 process are discussed.     

Effects of masker waveform and signal-to-masker phase relation on diotic and dichotic masking by reproducible noise

The proportions of hits and false alarms were estimated for the detection of a 500-Hz sinusoidal signal in each of 25, reproducible samples of wideband, white, Gaussian noise. The effects of signal phase were investigated under diotic (MoSo) and dichotic (MoS pi) conditions and compared to the predictions of two major models of binaural hearing. Averaging the data over samples obscured important across-sample and across-subject differences in performance. The proportions of hits and false alarms for individual noise samples presented under the MoSo condition were highly correlated with those for the same noise samples under the dichotic MoS pi condition, suggesting that the cues determining performance under these conditions are related. Signal-to-masker phase had a large effect on the proportion of hits under the MoSo condition, but only a small effect under the MoS pi condition. The Vector model predicts a large effect of signal phase under the MoS pi condition, and is, therefore, imcompatible with this aspect of the data. The expected value of the decision variable of the EC model is independent of signal phase. However, when the variance of the decision variable is also considered, the EC model does predict changes in the proportion of hits with the phase of the signal, comparable to those observed here. Further, it was shown that, if minor changes in the form of the EC model's decision variable or in the distribution of the internal noise parameters are assumed, the expected value of the decision variable also changes with the phase of the signal.     

Decay time analysis in pulse thermography

Pulse Thermography is being used since several years for rapid detection of subsurface defects. This method is well suited for industrial applications because no physical contact to the test object is needed. Within a short measurement time robust results are obtained. Besides phase evaluation the decay time of surface temperature can be analyzed. In this paper the idea was to investigate the temperature half-life period of each surface point. The sample is assumed to be composed of small elements having the same surface area but different lengths. In a simple model, heat propagation in between these elements is neglected (local one dimensional model). Only changes in mass, heat capacity, and volume are considered. If the material has homogeneous thermal properties, the length (e.g. thickness) has a strong impact on the cooling down process. The concept takes the decay time for each element as a parameter for imaging.     

电流变液中的电导率问题

直汉电场中电导率的微小变化会影响电流变效应是一个显见的事实，但长期以来，在电流变机理的研究中却被忽略。文章介绍近年来电流变液中的电导率问题研究的若干重要进展，包括经典点偶极子模型在直流电场中的改进、负电流变效应和电流变液的电导模型。     

Detection of global and local parameter variations using nonlinear feedback auxiliary signals and system augmentation

Recently, system augmentation has been combined with nonlinear feedback auxiliary signals to provide sensitivity enhancement in both linear and nonlinear systems. Augmented systems are higher dimensional linear systems that follow trajectories of a nonlinear system one at a time. These augmented systems are subject to a specialized augmented forcing which enforces the augmented system to exactly reproduce the trajectory of the nonlinear system when projected onto the lower dimensional (physical) system. Augmented systems have additional benefits outside of handling nonlinear systems, which makes them more desirable than regular linear systems for sensitivity enhancing control. One of the key advantages of augmented systems is the complete control over the augmented degrees of freedom, and the additional sensor-type knowledge from the augmented variables. These sensing and actuation features are very useful when only few physical actuators and sensors can be placed. Such restrictions are common in most applications, and they severely limit the usefulness of traditional linear sensitivity enhancing feedback approaches. Another benefit of the augmentation is that the control exerted on the augmented degrees of freedom does not require any physical energy, rather it is just signal processing. In this work, these benefits are refined to improve the robustness of detection using sensitivity enhancement. Also, the benefits of system augmentation are explored by using few actuators and sensors. An optimization algorithm is employed not only to maximize the sensitivity of resonant frequencies to added mass at particular locations, but also to detect uniform changes in mass and stiffness. In addition to increased sensitivity for both global and local parameter changes, a study of increasing the sensitivity of local changes, while decreasing the sensitivity of global changes is conducted. Additionally, a methodology is presented to accurately extract augmented frequencies from displacement and forcing data corrupted by noise. Numerical simulations of cantilevered beams are used to validate the approach and discuss the effects of noise.     

Physical and numerical verification of discharge calculations

Calculations of radio frequency discharge parameters, and to a lesser extent DC discharge parameters, are apparently highly sensitive to the physical model used. The testing of numerical schemes for error, considering alternative formulations and simple physical models, is carefully considered. Within kinetic models a number of options exist, having different capabilities, the implications of which are examined. Particle simulations are discussed, and mesh-based kinetic calculations are considered in detail. An efficient and accurate mesh-based kinetic model which closely replicates the physical processes taking place is presented. Ways to improve its accuracy, which is limited by the resolution of the mesh, and their effects are presented. Cross-checking of various numerical formulations shows that the results for each are essentially the same. Physical reasoning and simple estimates of discharge parameters are used to further substantiate the predictions for a particular discharge, and the processes taking place in an RF discharge in helium are described in detail     

Ultrasonic wave propagation in human cancellous bone: application of Biot theory

Ultrasonic wave propagation in human cancellous bone is considered. Reflection and transmission coefficients are derived for a slab of cancellous bone having an elastic frame using Biot's theory modified by the model of Johnson et al. [J. Fluid Mech. 176, 379-402 (1987)] for viscous exchange between fluid and structure. Numerical simulations of transmitted waves in the time domain are worked out by varying the modified Biot parameters. The variation is applied to the governing parameters and is about 20%. From this study, we can gain an insight into the sensitivity of each physical parameter used in this theory. Some parameters play an important role in slow-wave wave form, such as the viscous characteristic length lambda and pore fluid bulk modulus Kf. However, other parameters play an important role in the fast-wave wave form, such as solid density rhos and shear modulus N. We also note from these simulations that some parameters such as porosity phi, tortuosity alpha(infinty), thickness, solid bulk modulus Ks, and skeletal compressibility frame Kb, play an important role simultaneously in both fast and slow wave forms compared to other parameters which act on the wave form of just one of the two waves. The sensitivity of the modified Biot parameters with respect to the transmitted wave depends strongly on the coupling between the solid and fluid phases of the cancellous bone. Experimental results for slow and fast waves transmitted through human cancellous bone samples are given and compared with theoretical predictions.     

Voids at the tunnel-soil interface for calculation of ground vibration from underground railways

Voids at the tunnel-soil interface are not normally considered when predicting ground vibration from underground railways. The soil is generally assumed to be continuously bonded to the outer surface of the tunnel to simplify the modelling process. Evidence of voids around underground railways motivated the study presented herein to quantify the level of uncertainty in ground vibration predictions associated with neglecting to include such voids at the tunnel-soil interface. A semi-analytical method is developed which derives discrete transfers for the coupled tunnel-soil model based on the continuous Pipe-in-Pipe method. The void is simulated by uncoupling the appropriate nodes at the interface to prevent force transfer between the systems. The results from this investigation show that relatively small voids () can significantly affect the rms velocity predictions in the near-field and moderately affect predictions in the far-field. Sensitivity of the predictions to void length and void sector angle are both deemed to be significant. The findings from this study suggest that the uncertainty associated with assuming a perfect bond at the tunnel-soil interface in an area with known voidage can reasonably reach and thus should be considered in the design process.