Similarities in echolocation strategy and click characteristics between a Pseudorca crassidens and a Tursiops truncatus

A previous comparative analysis of normalized click amplitude spectra from a Tursiops truncatus has shown that those frequencies with the lowest click-to-click variability in spectral content were the frequencies the animal paid attention to during target discrimination tasks. In that case, the dolphin only paid attention to the frequency range between 29-42 kHz which had a significantly higher degree of consistency in spectral content than frequencies above 42 kHz. Here it is shown that despite their morphological and behavioral differences, this same pattern of consistency was used by a Pseudorca crassidens performing a similar discrimination task. This comparison between species provides a foundation for using spectral level variability to determine the frequencies most important for echolocation in rare species and non-captive animals. Such results provide key information for successful management.     

A re-evaluation of auditory filter shape in delphinid odontocetes: evidence of constant-bandwidth filters

The auditory filter shape of delphinid odontocetes was previously considered to be typically mammalian constant-quality in which filter bandwidths increase proportionally with frequency. Recent studies with porpoises demonstrate constant-bandwidth portions of the auditory filter. The critical ratios for a bottlenose dolphin were measured between 40 and 120 kHz by behaviorally determining the subject's ability to detect pure tones in the presence of white noise. Critical ratios as a function of frequency were constant, indicating the auditory filter acts as a constant-bandwidth system in this frequency range. Re-analysis of past studies supports these findings, and suggests the delphinid auditory system is best characterized as a constant-Q system below 40 kHz and a constant-bandwidth-like system between 40 kHz and 120 kHz before returning to a constant Q pattern at the highest frequencies.     

Near-field spatial correlations from partially coherent homogeneous planar sources: effects on surface wave excitation

We show that an increase of the coherence length of a statistically homogeneous planar source diminishes the contribution of surface waves to the spatial coherence of the near field, as well as producing changes in the enhancement of the near-field spectrum.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Self‐Assembly,Gelation, Morphology and Computational Studies of Alkynylgold(III) Complexes of 2,6‐Bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine Derivatives

A novel class of alkynylgold(III) complexes of the dianionic ligands derived from 2,6‐bis(benzimidazol‐2′‐yl)pyridine (H₂bzimpy) derivatives has been synthesized and characterized. The structure of one of the complexes has also been determined by X‐ray crystallography. Electronic absorption studies showed low‐energy absorption bands at 378–466 nm, which are tentatively assigned as metal‐perturbed π–π* intraligand transitions of the bzimpy^2? ligands. A computational study has been performed to provide further insights into the nature of the electronic transitions for this class of complexes. One of the complexes has been found to show gelation properties, driven by π–π and hydrophobic–hydrophobic interactions. This complex exhibited concentration‐ and temperature‐dependent ¹H NMR spectra. The morphology of the gel has been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).     

Target detection by the beluga using a surface-reflected path

During an echolocation-in-noise experiment we suspected that a beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) was using a surface-reflected path to maximize detection performance. We tested and confirmed this suspicion by acoustically and mechanically denying access to surface path information. The whale's performance varied as the surface-reflected path was denied.     

Unit responses in ventral cochlear nucleus reflect cochlear coding of rapid frequency sweeps

This study examines the encoding of rapid frequency sweeps in single units of the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN). Sweeps were designed to explore the role of cochlear mechanics in shaping the temporal responses across cells in the VCN. The time course of frequency change for rapidly rising frequency sweeps theoretically produced simultaneous displacement maxima by cancelling travel time along the cochlear partition. Rising sweeps with longer time courses only partially canceled travel time, while falling sweeps had time courses of frequency change equal to or greater than travel time. Falling sweeps thus augmented normal travel time. Latency of unit firing to sweeps across unit characteristic frequency (CF) reflected cochlear delay-line mechanics. The latency-CF functions agreed with predictions from travel-time estimates for rising-frequency sweeps, but responses to falling sweeps were less predictable.     

Propagation of beluga echolocation signals

The propagation characteristics of high-frequency echolocation signals (peak energies above 100 kHz) of the beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) were measured while the animal performed a target detection task. The whale was trained to station on a bite plate so that its transmission beam could be measured in the vertical and horizontal planes using hydrophone arrays. The transitional region between the acoustic near- and farfields was also located using an array of hydrophones that extended directly in front of the animal in the horizontal plane. Three distinct modes of signals were observed. Mode 1 signals had click intervals greater than the time required for the signals to travel to the target and back (two-way transit time). Mode 2 signals had click intervals shorter than the two-way transit time, and mode 3 signals had high repetition rates with an average click interval of 1.7 ms, approximately 2% of the two-way transit time. The average click intervals for the modes 1 and 2 signals were 193 and 44 ms, respectively. The vertical and horizontal beam patterns of the mode 1 signals had similar 3-dB beamwidths of approximately 6.5 degrees. The major axis of the vertical beam was directed approximately 5 degrees above the plane defined by the animal's teeth. The near- to farfield transition region was approximately 0.64-0.75 m from the tip of the animal's mouth.     

乙酸调控MIL-53(Fe)的形貌演变及其高效选择性氧化H2S性能

硫化氢(H2S)广泛存在于以煤、石油和天然气等为原料的化工生产过程中,不仅腐蚀管道和设备,而且还会对健康和环境造成危害.因此,高效脱除H2S已成为工业废气减排的重点.在各种方法中,H2S选择性氧化技术(H2S+(1/2)O2→(1/n)Sn+H2O)由于具有设备需求低、反应不受热力学平衡限制、理论转化率可达100%等优点展现出了巨大的应用前景.实现这一过程的关键在于发展高效稳定的催化剂.作为一类新兴的多孔材料,金属-有机骨架材料(MOFs)由于其独特的结构和性质吸引了广泛的研究兴趣.与传统的脱硫材料相比,MOFs的优势主要体现在:1)高度分散的金属原子可作为催化活性中心;2)超高比表面积和规则的孔结构有利于反应物与活性位点之间的接触;3)结构可调变性高,通过在合成过程中有目的地引入配体或调控剂可产生额外的活性位点,满足特定催化的需求.基于以上特点可知,MOFs是一类有潜力的催化剂,但目前将其应用于H2S选择性氧化领域的研究尚处于起步阶段.本文以典型的铁基MOFs MIL-53(Fe)为研究对象,在制备MIL-53(Fe)过程中添加乙酸(HAc)作为调控剂,通过控制HAc的量,得到一系列具有不同形貌的MIL-53(Fe)-xH样品,并将其应用于H2S选择性氧化反应.SEM结果表明,在MIL-53(Fe)的合成过程中引入乙酸可以显著影响样品的形貌和尺寸.活化前后样品的XRD结果表明,HAc具有与对苯二甲酸(H2BDC)相似羧基基团,二者均可与Fe–O团簇配位.此外,TG-DSC结果证实,随着HAc加入量的提高,与Fe^3+形成配位的HAc/H2BDC比值随之增加.FT-IR和Raman结果进一步证明HAc成功地配位到MIL-53(Fe)的框架中,并且参与配位的HAc可通过真空活化移除从而暴露出Fe^3+不饱和位点.H2S选择性氧化测试表明,MIL-53(Fe)-xH的脱硫活性随着HAc含量的提高先增加然后降低,其中MIL-53(Fe)-5H活性最优.此外,MIL-53(Fe)-5H催化剂在连续运行55 h后仍能保持100%H2S转化率和86%硫选择性,性能远优于传统的Fe2O3催化剂.吡啶原位红外光谱结果表明,HAc的引入可以产生额外的Lewis酸性位点(LAS),LAS含量的不同是造成催化剂活性差异的主要原因.     

An organoantimony complex with intramolecular N → Sb coordination as effective and recyclable catalyst for the allylation of aldehydes with tetraallyltin

An air-stable hypervalent organoantimony (III) triflate complex (PhN(CH₂C₆H₄)₂SbOSO₂CF₃) having intramolecular N → Sb coordination was synthesized and characterized by techniques such as ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, TG-DSC, X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The complex shows relatively strong Lewis acidity (0.8 < H_o ≤ 3.3). It exhibits excellent catalytic performance towards the allylation of aldehydes with tetraallyltin at room temperature, and shows good thermal stability and recyclability. The catalytic system enables convenient and efficient synthesis of homoallylic alcohols.     

Experimental observation of left-handed behavior in an array of standard dielectric resonators

We demonstrate that by utilizing displacement currents in simple dielectric resonators instead of conduction currents in metallic split-ring resonators and by additionally exciting the proper modes, left-handed properties can be observed in an array of high dielectric resonators. Theoretical analysis and experimental measurements show that the modes, as well as the subwavelength resonance, play an important role in the origin of the left-handed properties. The proposed implementation of a left-handed metamaterial, based on a purely dielectric configuration, opens the possibility of realizing media at terahertz frequencies since scaling issues and losses, two major drawbacks of metal-based structures, are avoided.