The effect of channel interactions on speech recognition in cochlear implant subjects: predictions from an acoustic model

Acoustic models that produce speech signals with information content similar to that provided to cochlear implant users provide a mechanism by which to investigate the effect of various implant-specific processing or hardware parameters independent of other complicating factors. This study compares speech recognition of normal-hearing subjects listening through normal and impaired acoustic models of cochlear implant speech processors. The channel interactions that were simulated to impair the model were based on psychophysical data measured from cochlear implant subjects and include pitch reversals, indiscriminable electrodes, and forward masking effects. In general, spectral interactions degraded speech recognition more than temporal interactions. These effects were frequency dependent with spectral interactions that affect lower-frequency information causing the greatest decrease in speech recognition, and interactions that affect higher-frequency information having the least impact. The results of this study indicate that channel interactions, quantified psychophysically, affect speech recognition to different degrees. Investigation of the effects that channel interactions have on speech recognition may guide future research whose goal is compensating for psychophysically measured channel interactions in cochlear implant subjects.     

Linear superposition in nonlinear equations

Several nonlinear systems such as the Korteweg-de Vries (KdV) and modified KdV equations and lambda phi(4) theory possess periodic traveling wave solutions involving Jacobi elliptic functions. We show that suitable linear combinations of these known periodic solutions yield many additional solutions with different periods and velocities. This linear superposition procedure works by virtue of some remarkable new identities involving elliptic functions.     

A mild protocol for allylation and highly diastereoselective syn or anti crotylation of aldehydes in biphasic and aqueous media utilizing potassium allyl- and crotyltrifluoroborates

[formula: see text] Potassium allyl- and crotyltrifluoroborates undergo addition to aldehydes in biphasic media as well as water to provide the corresponding homoallylic alcohols in high yields (> or = 94%), excellent diastereoselectivity (dr > or = 98:2), and without the necessity of any subsequent purification. The presence of a phase transfer catalyst (e.g., nBu4NI) significantly accelerates the rate of reaction, whereas added fluoride ion retards the reaction.     

Thermodynamic studies on the recognition of flexible peptides by transition-metal complexes

Strong and selective binding to a trihistidine peptide has been achieved employing Cu(2+)-histidine interactions in aqueous medium (25 mM HEPES buffer, pH 7.0). When the pattern of cupric ions on a complex matched with the pattern of histidines on the peptide, a strong and selective binding was observed. UV-vis spectroscopic studies show that the cupric ions coordinate to the histidines of the peptides. Thermodynamic studies reveal that the binding process is enthalpy driven over the entire range of working temperature (25-40 degrees C). An enthalpy-entropy compensation effect was also observed.     

Real time out-of-plane vibration measurement/monitoring using Talbot interferometry

In the present paper, application of Talbot interferometry for real-time vibration measurement is investigated. Experiments were conducted to measure/monitor out-of-plane motion of a vibrating loudspeaker membrane. Experimental results demonstrate that by using Talbot interferometry out-of-plane vibrations as well as phase lag between driving force and membrane oscillation can be measured.     

Synthesis and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Highly Functionalized Pyridylmethyl-C-β-D-Glycosides

Several pyridylmethyl-C-β-D-glycosides (3a–3l, 6a, and 6h) were synthesized by refluxing 3-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)/(β-D-cellobiosyl)-propanones and dicyanobenzylidenes with ammonium acetate in anhydrous toluene in moderate to good yields. The reaction involves a C?C Michael addition of enamine, formed from glycosyl ketone and ammonium acetate, to the dicayanobenzylidene derivative; subsequent dehydrative cyclization; and oxidative aromatization. Two of these prototypes, compounds 3e and 3k, were deacetylated to the respective glucopyranosyl methyl pyridines 4e and 4k with NaOMe/MeOH. The synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and one of the compounds showed 20% inhibition as compared to standard drug acarbose displaying 39% inhibition.     

Dielectric study of hot-pressed nanocomposite polymer electrolytes

Ion-conducting nanocomposite polymer electrolyte films based on poly(ethylene oxide)-NaPO₃ 3: 1 with up to 15 wt % of SiO₂ have been prepared using recently developed hot-press technique instead of conventional solution cast method. With 7 wt % of SiO₂, the film conductivity has been enhanced by an order of magnitude. The materials have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and thermogravimetric analysis. For the composition with the highest conductivity, the temperature dependences of ionic mobility, mobile ions concentration, ionic transference number, and ionic drift velocity have been determined. Dielectric constant and dielectric loss have been measured. The conductivity enhancement has been discussed on the basis of existing theories of dielectrics.     

Theoretical study on the kinetics and branching ratios of the gas phase reactions of 1, 1-Dichlorodimethylether (DCDME) with Cl atom

Quantum mechanical calculations are carried out on the reactions of CH₃OCHCl₂ (DCDME) with Cl atom by means of DFT and couple cluster methods. The geometries of the reactants, products, and transition states involved in the reaction pathways are optimized at BHandHLYP level of theory using 6-311G(d,p) basis set. Transition states are searched on the potential energy surface involved during the reaction channels, and each of the transition states is characterized by the presence of only one imaginary frequency. The existence of transition states on the corresponding potential energy surface is ascertained by performing intrinsic reaction coordinate calculation. Single point energy calculations are performed at CCSD(T) level using the same basis set. The hydrogen abstraction rate constant for the title reaction is calculated at 298 K and atmospheric pressure using the canonical transition state theory including tunneling correction. The calculated value for rate constant as 1.204 × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 is found to be in very good agreement with the recent experimental data. The percentage contributions of both reaction channels are also reported at 298 K.     

Aqueous Hydrofluoric Acid Catalyzed Facile Synthesis of 2,3,6‐Substituted Quinoxalines

A versatile synthetic route for the preparation of 2,3,6‐trisubstituted quinoxalines in excellent yield is developed from θ‐diamines and 1,2‐dicarbonyl compounds in which aqueous hydrofluoric acid was employed as the medium and catalyst. Other salient features of this protocol include milder conditions, absence of coupling agents, and easy workup procedures.