The use of visual cues in the perception of non-native consonant contrasts

This study assessed the extent to which second-language learners are sensitive to phonetic information contained in visual cues when identifying a non-native phonemic contrast. In experiment 1, Spanish and Japanese learners of English were tested on their perception of a labial/ labiodental consonant contrast in audio (A), visual (V), and audio-visual (AV) modalities. Spanish students showed better performance overall, and much greater sensitivity to visual cues than Japanese students. Both learner groups achieved higher scores in the AV than in the A test condition, thus showing evidence of audio-visual benefit. Experiment 2 examined the perception of the less visually-salient /1/-/r/ contrast in Japanese and Korean learners of English. Korean learners obtained much higher scores in auditory and audio-visual conditions than in the visual condition, while Japanese learners generally performed poorly in both modalities. Neither group showed evidence of audio-visual benefit. These results show the impact of the language background of the learner and visual salience of the contrast on the use of visual cues for a non-native contrast. Significant correlations between scores in the auditory and visual conditions suggest that increasing auditory proficiency in identifying a non-native contrast is linked with an increasing proficiency in using visual cues to the contrast.     

Random infinite-volume Gibbs states for the Curie-Weiss random field Ising model

An approach to the definition of infinite-volume Gibbs states for the (quenched) random-field Ising model is considered in the case of a Curie-Weiss ferromagnet. It turns out that these states are random quasi-free measures. They are random convex linear combinations of the free product-measures shifted by the corresponding effective mean fields. The conditional self-averaging property of the magnetization related to this randomness is also discussed.This paper is dedicated to Robert A. Minlos on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Solutions of logarithmic type for elliptic and hypoelliptic equations

LetK be an algebraically closed field withp:=char (K)>0 andX a bielliptic curve over Spec(K) with genus≥6 and such that the canonical model ofX is ordinary. In this paper we determine all the possible gap sequences of Weierstrass points on such curves.     

The law of the solution to a nonlinear hyperbolicSPDE

Let { _s,t ,(s,t ₊ ² } be a white noise on ₊ ² . We consider the hyperbolic stochastic partial differential equation {ie863-3} The purpose of this paper is to study the law of the solution to this equation. We analyze the existence and smoothness of the density using the tools of Malliavin Calculus. Finally we prove a large deviation principle on the space of continuous functions, for the family of probabilities obtained by perturbation of the noise in the equation.This work has been partially supported by the grant of the DGICYT No. PB 930052 and the EU Science project CT 910459.     

Interaction of O2 with Pt(100): I. Equilibrium measurements

Two newly discovered phases on the Pt(100) surface produced by the adsorption of oxygen have been investigated using Rutherford baekscattering (RBS), nuclear microanalysis (NMA), work function changes (Δφ) and LEED. One phase is associated with the oxygensaturated surface (0.63 ± 0.03 monolayers0.81 × 10¹⁵ O atoms cm^?2), where a very complex LEED pattern is observed; the other is observed at an average coverage of 0.44 ± 0.05 monolayers and gives rise to a (3 × 1) LEED pattern (when observed at room temperature). For both surfaces, RBS measurements indicate large (? 0.025 nm) Pt atom displacements. Also discussed is a new method for preparing the “clean” (1 × 1)-Pt(100) surface without the need for NO adsorption/decomposition.     

Combination of HAADF‐STEM and ADF‐STEM Tomography for Core–Shell Hybrid Materials

Characterization of core–shell type nanoparticles in 3D by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) can be very challenging. Especially when both heavy and light elements coexist within the same nanostructure, artifacts in the 3D reconstruction are often present. A representative example would be a particle comprising an anisotropic metallic (Au) nanoparticle coated with a (mesoporous) silica shell. To obtain a reliable 3D characterization of such an object, a dose‐efficient strategy is proposed to simultaneously acquire high‐angle annular dark‐field scanning TEM and annular dark‐field tilt series for tomography. The 3D reconstruction is further improved by applying an advanced masking and interpolation approach to the acquired data. This new methodology enables us to obtain high‐quality reconstructions from which also quantitative information can be extracted. This approach is broadly applicable to investigate hybrid core–shell materials.     

Ultrasonic heating of the skull

Comparatively simple analysis shows that diagnostic ultrasound devices, in some cases, may approach output levels that can produce significant heating of tissues, particularly if the propagation path includes bone. Experimental tests of these predictions using rodents show that temperature increments of the order of 3 degrees C/W/cm2 are produced in skull bone with sharply focused fields at medically relevant frequencies.