Detecting synchronizations in an asymmetric vocal fold model from time series data

A nonlinear modeling approach is presented for the reconstruction of the synchronization structure in an asymmetric two-mass model from time series data. The asymmetric two-mass model describes a variety of normal and pathological human voices associated with synchronous and desynchronous oscillations of the two asymmetric vocal folds. Our technique recovers the synchronization diagram, which yields the regimes of synchronization as well as desynchronization, which are dependent upon the asymmetry parameter and the subglottal pressure. This allows the prediction of the regime of pathological phonation associated with desynchronization of the vocal folds from a few sets of recorded time series. It is shown that the modeling is quite effective when the time series data are chaotic and if they are taken from a regime of desynchronization. We discuss the applicability of the present approach as a diagnostic tool for voice pathologies.     

Quantitative assessment of rat kidney function by measuring the clearance of the contrast agent Gd(DOTA) using dynamic MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been applied to assess kidney function in normal rats by monitoring the passage of the extracellular contrast agent GdDOTA. High-resolution images have been obtained using either the rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) or the snapshot pulse sequence. The latter was superior in anatomic definition due to the shorter echo delays used. The GdDOTA induced signal enhancements in the various renal structures were theoretically modeled and the results of the regression analysis then used to estimate local tissue concentrations in renal cortex, inner medulla and outer medulla/pelvis. The concentration-time curves in vena cava and renal cortex were similar and distinctly different from the ones in medulla and pelvis. This is reflected in the time-to-peak (TTP) values, which were TTP (blood) = 0.18 +/- 0.03 < TTP (cortex) = 0.26 +/- 0.05 < TTP (outer medulla) = 0.62 +/- 0.03 < TTP (inner medulla/pelvis) = 0.92 +/- 0.16 min. The initial tracer uptake rates depended linearly on the dose of GdDOTA administered, the value of the uptake rate in the cortex being significantly higher than those in the outer and inner medulla, which were identical within error limits. The initial medullar tracer uptake followed a first-order kinetics. The rate constant k(cl) = (dc[medulla]/dt)/c[cortex] = 3.4 +/- 0.5 min(-1) for the transition from cortex (predominantly blood signal) to medulla (predominantly urine) was considered a measure for the renal clearance. Intravenous administration of furosemide at doses 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg led to a dose-dependent decrease of k(cl). This reflects the inhibitory effect of the diuretic furosemide on medullary water resorption and thus the dilution of the GdDOTA in urine.     

Structural investigation of icosahedral Pd58.8U20.6Si20.6

The structure factors of the amorphous, icosahedral and crystalline Pd_58.8U_20.6Si_20.6 were measured with X-rays and neutrons. By comparing the radial distribution functions of the three phases, we find a similar short range order in the amorphous and icosahedral phase, but a different atomic arrangement in the crystalline phase. A magnetic long range order observed in the crystalline material is absent in the icosahedral phase.Dedicated to Professor Harry Thomas on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Chain entanglement and viscoelastic properties of molten polymers

Linear low-density polyethylenes (LLDPES) and polypropylene (PP) have been recovered from solutions of varying initial polymer concentration. Melts of these polymers show significant reductions in viscosity and elasticity, and the effects are attributed to changes in the entanglement density of the polymer. Measurements of entanglement densities have been attempted from experimental values of the apparent zero-shear melt viscosity. These indicate that solution treatments in trichlorobenzene at 135°C reduce the entanglement density more effectively in PP than in LLDPE. In all cases the observed effects are reversible by annealing at elevated temperatures. Analytic data point to entanglement changes as the true origin of changes in viscoelastic properties, since solution treatments produce no changes in molecular weights and weight distributions, and the samples tested are free of solvent residues.     

Chemical sensing and imaging with pulsed terahertz radiation

Over the past decade, terahertz spectroscopy has evolved into a versatile tool for chemically selective sensing and imaging applications. In particular, the potential to coherently generate and detect short, and hence, broadband terahertz pulses led to the development of efficient and compact spectrometers for this interesting part of the electromagnetic spectrum, where common packaging materials are transparent and many chemical compounds show characteristic absorptions. Although early proof-of-principle demonstrations have shown the great potential of terahertz spectroscopy for sensing and imaging, the technology still often lacks the required sensitivity and suffers from its intrinsically poor spatial resolution. In this review we discuss the current potential of terahertz pulse spectroscopy and highlight recent technological advances geared towards both enhancing spectral sensitivity and increasing spatial resolution.