Linguistic contributions to speech-on-speech masking for native and non-native listeners: language familiarity and semantic content

This study examined whether speech-on-speech masking is sensitive to variation in the degree of similarity between the target and the masker speech. Three experiments investigated whether speech-in-speech recognition varies across different background speech languages (English vs Dutch) for both English and Dutch targets, as well as across variation in the semantic content of the background speech (meaningful vs semantically anomalous sentences), and across variation in listener status vis-a?-vis the target and masker languages (native, non-native, or unfamiliar). The results showed that the more similar the target speech is to the masker speech (e.g., same vs different language, same vs different levels of semantic content), the greater the interference on speech recognition accuracy. Moreover, the listener's knowledge of the target and the background language modulate the size of the release from masking. These factors had an especially strong effect on masking effectiveness in highly unfavorable listening conditions. Overall this research provided evidence that that the degree of target-masker similarity plays a significant role in speech-in-speech recognition. The results also give insight into how listeners assign their resources differently depending on whether they are listening to their first or second language.     

Symmetric composition algebras over algebraic varieties

Let ${(X,\mathcal{O}_X)}$ be a locally ringed space. We investigate the structure of symmetric composition algebras over X obtained from cubic alternative algebras ${\mathcal{A}}$ over X generalizing a method first presented by J. R. Faulkner. We find examples of Okubo algebras over elliptic curves which do not have any isotopes which are octonion algebras and of an octonion algebra which is a Cayley-Dickson doubling of a quaternion algebra but does not contain any quadratic étale algebras.     

Competition between dipolar and steric interactions in swallow-tailed compounds

A new class of swallow-tailed mesogen with the longitudinal dipole moment in the direction of the non-branched 'head' is presented. Mixtures of these compounds with 'conventional' swallow-tailed substances were investigated by polarization microscopy and dielectric measurements. In the mixtures, dipolar and steric interactions favour opposite arrangements of the molecules in the short range order.     

The Alkylation and Acylation of Glycals via an Initializing Electrochemical Step

Abstract

The method of electrochemically induced formation of ether and ester derivatives of saturated mono- and disaccharides was applied to 1, 2-unsaturated monosaccharides (D-glycals). The influence of the supporting electrolyte on the product distribution was investigated by variation of the cation. To provide data for comparison, alkylation was also carried out chemically in the presence of different bases, e.g. LiH and NaH.     

Epitaxial growth of μm-sized Cu pyramids on silicon

Triangular and quadratic Cu pyramids were epitaxially grown on Si(111) and Si(100) substrates, respectively, by pulsed laser deposition at elevated substrate temperatures above 200°C as well as by post-annealing of closed Cu layers prepared at room temperature. In both cases, three-dimensional pyramids with edge lengths of up to 9 μm were obtained, as observed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Although the macroscopic shape is a pyramid, microscopically the islands consist of columnar grains (with lateral sizes of only about 50 nm at 260°C). The size and shape of the pyramids can be controlled by the substrate used, the amount of material deposited, and the temperature during deposition or annealing. Additionally, first hints were found that the pyramids can be aligned by structuring the substrate. The formation of such large pyramids is explained by a fast diffusion of Cu atoms on Si over distances of some μm and a high jump probability to higher pyramid layers.     

Neutronenaktivierungsanalytische Bestimmung des Chromgehaltes von Laboratoriumskaninchen-Skelettmuskel

Zusammenfassung Als Beitrag zur Ermittlung der richtigen Werte der Chromgehalte von menschlichen und tierischen Geweben und Körperflüssigkeiten wurde der Chromgehalt von Laboratoriumskaninchen-Skelettmuskel neutronenaktivierungsanalytisch bestimmt. Bisherige Angaben anderer Autoren: <7,1–121 ng/g. Die Verbesserung einer in der Literatur angegebenen ⁵¹Cr-Abtrennung durch Chromylchloriddestillation und die erforderlichen Maßnahmen zur Minimierung des Chromblindwertes werden beschrieben. Dessen Hauptanteil wird durch die Restverunreinigung der Bestrahlungsampullen-Oberfläche mit Chrom bedingt und beträgt 0,049 ng Cr (ohne Gefriertrocknung) bzw. 0.12 ng Cr (mit Gefriertrocknung). Analysen von Standardreferenzmaterialien (SRM) ergaben Chromgehaltswerte, die bei NBS-Citrus Leaves mit dem Zertifikatswert, bei IAEA animal muscle (H-4) mit dem neuesten Literaturwert von 9,2±2,5 ng/g übereinstimmen. Im Falle von NBS-Orchard Leaves erwies sich, daß dieses SRM für die Überprüfung der Methode ungeeignet ist. In Analysen von Oberschenkelmuskel-Proben von Bastardkaninchen resultierten Chromgehalte von 6,2–22,9 ng/g (bezogen auf Frischgewicht). Aus dem Vergleich dieser Daten mit dem früher gefundenen Wert von 1,2 ng/g, dem Literaturwert <7,1 ng/g und dem auf Frischgewicht berechneten H-4-Wert von 2,5 ng/g folgt, daß die Chromgehalte von Säugetier-Skelettmuskel innerhalb eines breiten Bereiches liegen dürften, auch die von Muskel einer Subspecies.

---

Determination of the chromium content of laboratory rabbit skeletal muscles by neutron activation analysis

Summary The accurate values of the chromium contents of human and mammalian tissues and body fluids and appropriate procedures for their determination are still a matter of discussion. In this connexion, the chromium content of skeletal muscle of laboratory rabbits has been determined using neutron activation analysis. Data hitherto published by other authors: <7.1–121 ng/g. The procedure for separation of ⁵¹Cr by distillation of chromium oxychloride, described in the literature, has been improved. The arrangements necessary to minimize the chromium blank values are described. The main component of this blank is caused by the residual chromium contamination of the surface of the sample vial; typical values of this component are 0.049 ng Cr (without lyophilization) and 0.12 ng Cr (with lyophilization). The analyses of standard reference materials (SRM) yielded values of the chromium contents that are in agreement (i) with the certified value in the case of NBS Citrus Leaves, and (ii) with the latest published value of 9.2±2.5 ng/g in the case of IAEA animals muscle (H-4). NBS Orchard Leaves was found not to be an appropriate SRM for testing the method. In analyses of samples of thigh muscle of bastard rabbits chromium contents of 6.2–22.9 ng/g (fresh weight basis) were obtained. Comparison of these data with a previously found value of 1.2 ng/g, the literature value <7.1 ng/g and the value 2.5 ng/g for H-4 calculated on fresh weight basis indicated that the chromium contents of mammalian skeletal muscle might lie in a broad range, even for a subspecies.

---

---

Herrn Prof. Dr. K. H. Lieser zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet     

Null Sequences in Coechelon Spaces

Rotundity of finite -dimensional Orlicz spaces l^?_n equipped with the Luxemburg norm is considered. It is proved that criteria for rotundity of l^?_nfor n ≥ 3 does not depend on n and are the same as the criteria for rotundity of the inhite-dimensional subspace h^? of an Orlicz sequence spacel^?. Criteria for rotundity of l^?₂ are different. Next, criteria for exposed points, (H)- points, strongly exposed points and LUR- points of the unit sphere of l^? and of its subspace h^? are given.