Cochlear nonlinearity between 500 and 8000 Hz in listeners with normal hearing

Cochlear nonlinearity was estimated over a wide range of center frequencies and levels in listeners with normal hearing, using a forward-masking method. For a fixed low-level probe, the masker level required to mask the probe was measured as a function of the masker-probe interval, to produce a temporal masking curve (TMC). TMCs were measured for probe frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz, and for masker frequencies 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, 1.0 (on frequency), 1.1, and 1.6 times the probe frequency. Across the range of probe frequencies, the TMCs for on-frequency maskers showed two or three segments with clearly distinct slopes. If it is assumed that the rate of decay of the internal effect of the masker is constant across level and frequency, the variations in the slopes of the TMCs can be attributed to variations in cochlear compression. Compression-ratio estimates for on-frequency maskers were between 3:1 and 5:1 across the range of probe frequencies. Compression did not decrease at low frequencies. The slopes of the TMCs for the lowest frequency probe (500 Hz) did not change with masker frequency. This suggests that compression extends over a wide range of stimulus frequencies relative to characteristic frequency in the apical region of the cochlea.     

Electrical characteristics of BaTiO3/ Bi0.5K0.5TiO3 multilayered thin films synthesized via metalloorganic decomposition

Multilayered BaTiO₃(BTO)/Bi_0.5K_0.5TiO₃ (BKT) thin films have been fabricated on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrates using a metalloorganic decomposition process. XRD investigation of the resultant BTO/BKT multilayered thin films shows that they retain a perovskite-related structure type. They also exhibit a well-defined, polarization–electric field hysteresis loop with a measured remnant polarization (2P_r) of 5 µC/cm² at an applied electric field of 250 kV/cm. The measured dielectric constant and dielectric loss at 10 kHz is 470 and 0.07 respectively. These multilayer BTO/BKT films maintain an excellent fatigue-free character even after 10⁹ switching cycles. The mechanism associated with the enhancement of the electrical properties of the synthesized BTO/BKT films is also discussed.     

Scenario of Inflationary Cosmology from the Phenomenological Λ Models

Choosing the three phenomenological models of the dynamical cosmological term Λ, viz., , and Λ∼ρ where a is the cosmic scale factor, it has been shown by the method of numerical analysis for the considered non-linear differential equations that the three models are equivalent for the flat Universe k=0 and for arbitrary non-linear equation of state. The evolution plots for dynamical cosmological term Λ vs. time t and also the cosmic scale factor a vs. t are drawn here for k=0,+1. A qualitative analysis has been made from the plots which supports the idea of inflation and hence expanding Universe.     

Triton-B Catalyzed Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Dithiocarbamate Esters

A novel process for the one-step chemoselective conversion of alkyl halides into dithiocarbamates as protected amines was developed using benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide (Triton-B) in presence of carbon disulfide. Thus, dithiocarbamates of different amines were prepared in very good to excellent yields. This protocol is mild, chemoselective, and efficient compared to other methods.     

Evaluation of various derivatization approaches for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine

Various chemical derivatization approaches have been adapted for the analysis of buprenorphine and its major metabolite (norbuprenorphine) by GC-MS based methodologies. These approaches included alkylation, acylation, and silylation resulting in the formation of methyl, acetyl, trifluoroacetyl, pentafluoropropionyl, heptafluorobutyryl, and trimethylsilyl derivatives. This study conducted a comprehensive evaluation on the merits of these approaches based on the following criteria: reaction yields and ionization efficiency of the derivatization products; chromatographic characteristics; and cross-contributions to the intensities of ions designating the analytes and the internal standards. Under acidic derivatization conditions, the analytes could form three artifact products. Overall, derivatization by acetyl anhydride resulted in best performance characteristics.     

NaCu(II)4] cluster from alkali template assembly of two asymmetric end-on azido-bridged [Cu(II)2] units

The cluster [NaCu4L2(N3)2](ClO4) [1; H3L is 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[3'-aza-4'-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)prop-4'-en-1'-yl]-1,3-imidazolidine] has been synthesized and structurally characterized. Complex 1 is formed by the template assembly of two [Cu2L(N3)] neutral fragments through their weak oxophilic interactions with a central Na+ cation as observed in metallacrowns. The cluster exhibits a combination of ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions. End-on N3- bridging of copper ions within the [Cu(II)2] units facilitates stabilization of S = 1 magnetic subunits that mutually cancel via antiferromagnetic coupling as mediated by the O...Na+...O bridges.     

Structure and Bonding in First‐Row Transition‐Metal Dicarbides: Are They Related to the Stability of Met‐cars?

First-row transition-metal dicarbides MC(2) (M=Sc-Zn) have been investigated by using quantum-mechanical techniques. The competition between cyclic and linear isomers in these systems has been studied and the bonding scheme for these compounds is discussed through topological analysis of electron density. All of the systems have been found to prefer a C(2v)-symmetric arrangement, although for ZnC(2) the energy difference between this and the linear isomer is rather small. In most cases the C(2v)-symmetric structure corresponds to a T-shaped structure, with the exceptions of TiC(2), CoC(2), and NiC(2) which have been shown to be true rings. A detailed analysis of the variation of the energy of the system with geometry has been carried out. An analysis of the bonding, taking into account the main interactions between the valence orbitals of both fragments, the M atom and the C(2) molecule, has allowed the main features of these compounds to be interpreted. A clear correlation between the dissociation energies of the first-row transition-metal dicarbides and the bonding energies of the corresponding met-cars was observed.     

Structure and bonding in first-row transition metal dicarbide cations MC2+

A theoretical study of the first-row transition metal dicarbide cations MC2+ (M=Sc-Zn) has been carried out. Predictions for different molecular properties that could help in their eventual experimental detection have been made. Most MC2+ compounds prefer a C2v symmetric arrangement over the linear geometry. In particular, the C2v isomer is specially favored for early transition metals. Only for CuC2+ is the linear isomer predicted to be the global minimum, although by only 1 kcal/mol. In all cases the isomerization barrier between cyclic and linear species seems to be very small (below 2 kcal/mol). The topological analysis of the electronic density shows that most C2v isomers are T-shaped structures. In general, MC2+ compounds for early transition metals have larger dissociation energies than those formed by late transition metals. In most cases the dissociation energies for MC2+ compounds are much smaller than those obtained for their neutral analogues. An analysis of the bonding in MC2+ compounds in terms of the interactions between the valence orbitals of the fragments helps to interpret their main features.     

Adsorbed para-nitrophenol on HDTMAB organoclay--a TEM and infrared spectroscopic study

para-Nitrophenol adsorbed on hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide modified montmorillonite has been studied using a combination of X-ray diffraction TEM and infrared spectroscopy. Upon formation of the organoclay, the properties change from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. It is proposed that para-nitrophenol is adsorbed onto the water in the cation hydration sphere of the organoclay. As the cation is replaced by the surfactant molecules the para-nitrophenol replaces the surfactant molecules in the clay interlayer. Significant changes in the water vibrations occur in this process. Bands attributed to CH stretching and bending vibrations in general decrease as the concentration of the surfactant (CEC) increases up to 1.0 CEC. After this concentration the bands increase approaching a value the same as that of the surfactant. Strong changes occur in the HCH deformation modes of the methyl groups of the surfactant. These changes are attributed to the methyl groups locking into the siloxane surface of the montmorillonite. Such a concept is supported by changes in the SiO stretching bands of the montmorillonite siloxane surface. This study demonstrates that para-nitrophenol will penetrate into the untreated clay interlayer and replace the intercalated surfactant in surfactant modified clay, resulting in the change of the arrangement of the intercalated surfactant.     

Near infrared spectroscopy of stearic acid adsorbed on montmorillonite

The adsorption of stearic acid on both sodium montmorillonites and calcium montmorillonites has been studied by near infrared spectroscopy complimented with infrared spectroscopy. Upon adsorption of stearic acid on Ca–Mt additional near infrared bands are observed at 8236 cm^?1 and is assigned to an interaction of stearic acid with the water of hydration. Upon adsorption of the stearic acid on Na–Mt, the NIR bands are now observed at 5671, 5778, 5848 and 5912 cm^?1 and are assigned to the overtone and combination bands of the CH fundamentals. Additional bands at 4177, 4250, 4324, 4337, 4689 and 4809 cm^?1 are attributed to CH combination bands resulting from the adsorption of the stearic acid. Stearic acid is used as a model molecule for adsorption studies. The application of near infrared spectroscopy to the study of this adsorption proved most useful.