Vowel enhancement effects in cochlear-implant users

Auditory enhancement of certain frequencies can occur through prior stimulation of surrounding frequency regions. The underlying neural mechanisms are unknown, but may involve stimulus-driven changes in cochlear gain via the medial olivocochlear complex (MOC) efferents. Cochlear implants (CIs) bypass the cochlea and stimulate the auditory nerve directly. If the MOC plays a critical role in enhancement then CI users should not exhibit this effect. Results using vowel stimuli, with and without preceding sounds designed to enhance formants, provided evidence of auditory enhancement in both normal-hearing listeners and CI users, suggesting that vowel enhancement is not mediated solely by cochlear effects.     

T3P-promoted synthesis of a series of novel 3-aryl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-benzothiazin-4-ones

A series of 11 novel 3-aryl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-benzothiazin-4-ones was prepared at room temperature by T3P-mediated cyclization of N-aryl-C-phenyl imines with thiosalicylic acid. This provides simple and ready access to N-aryl compounds in this family, which have been generally difficult to prepare.     

Deprotection of a primary Boc group under basic conditions

Treatment of a primary t-butyl carbamate (Boc) group with excess sodium t-butoxide in slightly wet tetrahydrofuran or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran provides the corresponding primary amine in excellent yield. We believe the reaction proceeds through an isocyanate intermediate.     

Frequency and effects of teachers'' voice problems

This study compared the frequency and effects of voice symptomsin teachers to a group of individuals employed in other occupations. Teachers were more likely to report having a voice problem (15 vs. 6%), having 10 specific voice symptoms, and having 5 symptoms of physical discomfort. They averaged almost 2 symptoms compared with none for nonteachers. Likewise, teachers were more likely to perceive that a voice problem would adversely affect their future career options, had done so in the past, and was limiting their current job performance. Over 20% of teachers but none of the nonteachers had missed any days of work due to a voice problem. These findings suggest that teaching is a high-risk occupation for voice disorders and that this health problem may have significant work-related and economic effects.     

A Pitzer Model for Lead Oxide Solubilities in the Presence of Borate to High Ionic Strength

In this study, a hydrolysis model for lead, applicable to high ionic strength, is developed based on lead oxide solubilities as a function of ionic strength. Solubility measurements on lead oxide, α-PbO (tetragonal, red), mineral name litharge, as a function of ionic strength were conducted in NaClO₄ solutions up to I?=?0.45 mol·kg^?1, in NaCl solutions up to I?=?5.0 mol·kg^?1, and in Na₂SO₄ solutions up to I?=?5.4 mol·kg^?1, at room temperature (22.5?±?0.5 °C). The lead hydroxyl species considered in this work include the following,

$$ {\text{PbO}}\left( {\text{cr}} \right) \, + {\text{ 2H}}^{ + } \rightleftharpoons {\text{Pb}}^{ 2+ } + {\text{ H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\left( {\text{l}} \right) $$

(1)

$$ {\text{Pb}}^{ 2+ } + {\text{ H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\left( {\text{l}} \right) \rightleftharpoons {\text{PbOH}}^{ + } + {\text{ H}}^{ + } $$

(2)

$$ {\text{Pb}}^{ 2+ } + {\text{ 2H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\left( {\text{l}} \right) \rightleftharpoons {\text{Pb}}\left( {\text{OH}} \right)_{ 2} \left( {\text{aq}} \right) \, + {\text{ 2H}}^{ + } $$

(3)

$$ {\text{Pb}}^{ 2+ } + {\text{ 3H}}_{ 2} {\text{O}}\left( {\text{l}} \right) \rightleftharpoons {\text{Pb(OH}})_{3}^{ - } + 3{\text{H}}^{ + } $$

(4)

The equilibrium constants for Reactions (1) and (2) were taken from literature. The equilibrium constants in base 10 logarithmic units for Reactions (3) and (4) are determined in this study as ? 17.05?±?0.10 (2σ) and ? 27.99?±?0.15 (2σ), respectively, with a set of Pitzer parameters describing the interactions with Na⁺, Cl^?, and \( {\text{SO}}_{4}^{2 - } .\) In combination with the parameters from literature including those that have already been published by our group, the solution chemistry of lead in a number of media including NaCl, MgCl₂, NaHCO₃, Na₂CO₃, Na₂SO₄, NaClO₄, and their mixtures, can be accurately described in a wide range of ionic strengths.

     

Design, synthesis, and validation of rigid linkers for bioactive peptides

Rigid linkers of variable length were synthesized and used to connect two NDP-α-MSH ligands. The linkers were incorporated by solid-phase synthesis. Biological evaluations indicate that there is virtually no effect of these linkers on ligand binding to the human melanocortin 4 receptor.