Lower bounds for the discrepancy of triples of inversive congruential pseudorandom numbers with power of two modulus

This paper deals with the inversive congruential method with power of two modulusm for generating uniform pseudorandom numbers. Statistical independence properties of the generated sequences are studied based on the distribution of triples of successive pseudorandom numbers. It is shown that there exist parameters in the inversive congruential method such that the discrepancy of the corresponding point sets in the unit cube is of an order of magnitude at leastm ^–1/3. The method of proof relies on a detailed analysis of certain rational exponential sums.     

Vowel Intelligibility in Classical Singing

Vowel intelligibility during singing is an important aspect of communication during performance. The intelligibility of isolated vowels sung by Western classically trained singers has been found to be relatively low, in fact, decreasing as pitch rises, and it is lower for women than for men. The lack of contextual cues significantly deteriorates vowel intelligibility. It was postulated in this study that the reduced intelligibility of isolated sung vowels may be partly from the vowels used by the singers in their daily vocalises. More specifically, if classically trained singers sang only a few American English vowels during their vocalises, their intelligibility for American English vowels would be less than for those classically trained singers who usually vocalize on most American English vowels. In this study, there were 21 subjects (15 women, 6 men), all Western classically trained performers as well as teachers of classical singing. They sang 11 words containing 11 different American English vowels, singing on two pitches a musical fifth apart. Subjects were divided into two groups, those who normally vocalize on 4, 5, or 6 vowels, and those who sing all 11 vowels during their daily vocalises. The sung words were cropped to isolate the vowels, and listening tapes were created. Two listening groups, four singing teachers and five speech-language pathologists, were asked to identify the vowels intended by the singers. Results suggest that singing fewer vowels during daily vocalises does not decrease intelligibility compared with singing the 11 American English vowels. Also, in general, vowel intelligibility was lower with the higher pitch, and vowels sung by the women were less intelligible than those sung by the men. Identification accuracy was about the same for the singing teacher listeners and the speech-language pathologist listeners except for the lower pitch, where the singing teachers were more accurate.     

ZnS and ZnSe Nanoparticles via Solid-State and Solution Thermolysis of Zinc Silylchalcogenolate Complexes

The thermolysis of the zinc trimethylsilylchalcogenolate complexes (N,N′-tmeda)Zn(ESiMe₃)₂ (E = S, 1; E = Se, 2) and (3,5-Me₂-C₅H₃N)₂Zn(ESiMe₃)₂ (E = S, 3; E = Se, 4) has been investigated. Solid-state thermal decomposition of complexes 1–4 above 250°C results in the formation of hexagonal ZnS and cubic ZnSe, respectively, via the liberation of TMEDA (1–2) or 3,5-lutidine (3–4) and E(SiMe₃)₂. Solid-state or solution thermolysis of these complexes up to 200°C produces nanocrystalline ZnS and ZnSe materials whose surface is protected by either coordinated TMEDA or 3,5-lutidine ligands. The progress of the step-wise solid-state decomposition of these complexes was monitored by thermogravimetric and single differential thermal analysis and volatile decomposition products in both solution and solid-state experiments were identified by GC/MS.Dedicated to Professor Brian F. G. Johnson on the occasion of his retirement.     

Gibt es nichttriviale absolut-normale Körpererweiterungen?

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Conformation control of bilatrienes by peptides: A survey

Summary A variety of bilipeptides has been synthesized and investigated by UV-VIS and CD spectroscopy to explore the conformational influence of peptide ligands on the covalently bound tetrapyrrol moiety. The results obtained are complemented by those reported previously. From the comprehensive data thus available several features of the peptidic chain regulating interactions with the bilatriene moiety have been elucidated. Accordingly, the presence of three amide linkages at the ligand is prerequiste for induction of pronounced conformational changes consisting either in a complete transition ofM intoP helical bilatriene species by inversion of all torsional angles, or in a stretching of the chromophore. The kind of conformational influence can be controlled by varying the position of the prolyl entity within a given peptide.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Kurt Schaffner on occasion of his 60th birthday