Effects of flanking band proximity, number, and modulation pattern on comodulation masking release

Comodulation masking release for a 700-Hz pure-tone signal was investigated as a function of the number and spectral positions of 20-Hz-wide comodulated flanking bands. In the first experiment, all stimuli were presented diotically. CMR was examined as a function of the number of flanking bands present, in conditions where the bands were arranged symmetrically around the signal frequency, were below the signal frequency, or were above the signal frequency. The number of flanking bands ranged from one to eight, and the magnitude of the diotic CMR ranged from approximately 5-16 dB. The results indicated: (1) bands closer to the signal resulted in larger masking release, and (2) more bands gave rise to larger CMR (but with diminishing returns above two flanking bands). Two additional sets of diotic conditions were examined and compared to the condition where all eight comodulated flanking bands were present: In one set of conditions, two of the eight flanking bands were removed; in the other set of conditions, two of the eight flanking bands were replaced with bands (termed "deviant" bands) that were not comodulated with respect to the other bands. There was very little effect of reducing eight bands to six, even when the removed bands were relatively near the signal frequency; however, CMR was substantially reduced when deviant bands were introduced, particularly when the deviant bands were placed relatively near the signal frequency. These reductions in CMR were slightly greater when each of the deviant bands had a unique modulation pattern (bideviant bands) than when the two deviant bands themselves shared the same modulation pattern (codeviant bands). In the second experiment, dichotic conditions were examined where the number and spectral positions of the flanking bands in the nonsignal ear were varied (the signal ear received only a 20-Hz-wide noise band centered on the signal frequency). The magnitude of the dichotic CMR ranged from approximately 2-10 dB, depending on condition. Effects of proximity and the number of flanking bands were similar to the effects obtained in diotic conditions. For both the diotic and the dichotic data, the effects of proximity were more consistent with an interpretation based upon across-channel processing than upon a within-channel interaction. The results obtained using deviant bands indicate that it is difficult for the auditory system to disregard the modulation pattern of flanking bands that differ from the modulation pattern of the on-signal band, particularly if such bands are proximal to the signal frequency.     

Comodulation masking release and auditory grouping

The detectability of a pure-tone signal masked by a band of noise centered on the signal can be improved by the addition of flanking noise bands, provided that the temporal envelopes of the flanking bands are correlated with that of the on-signal band. This phenomenon is referred to as comodulation masking release (CMR). The present study examined CMR in conditions in which some flanking noise bands were comodulated with the on-signal band, but other flanking bands (termed "deviant" bands) were not. Past research has indicated that CMR is often substantially reduced when deviant bands are present at spectral locations close to the signal frequency. An investigation was undertaken to determine whether the disruptive effects of such bands could be reduced by factors related to auditory grouping. The signal frequency was 100 Hz. In one condition, only 20-Hz-wide comodulated bands, centered on 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600 Hz, were present. The CMR for this condition, referenced to threshold for the on-signal band only, was approximately 15 dB. In a second condition, two deviant bands were added at 900 and 1100 Hz; their presence reduced the CMR to only 3-4 dB. The number of deviant bands was then increased progressively, from two to eight bands. Deviant bands either shared a common envelope (codeviant), or had unique envelopes (multideviant). The number of bands that were comodulated with the on-signal band was held constant at six.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Hamiltonian limit of the 3D Zamolodchikov model

A two-dimensional quantum Hamiltonian _N,M commuting with the layer-to-layer transfer matrix of the three-dimensional Zamolodchikov model is derived. This Hamiltonian is defined on a lattice ofN×M sites. The special casesN×2, 2×M, and 3×M are studied.This paper is dedicated to Cyril Domb.     

MRI evaluation of AIDS-related encephalopathy: toxoplasmosis vs. lymphoma

The spectrum of cranial MRI findings was evaluated in 113 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, assessing lesion number, size, location, and configuration in association with the autopsy and/or biopsy results. Correlation of cranial MRI and CT was performed in 32 patients. MRI was shown to be superior in sensitivity of lesion detection demonstrating more lesions than CT in 14 studies (44%) and equivalent information in 18 studies (56%). In no case did CT demonstrate lesions not detected on MRI. We conclude that MRI should be the study of choice in evaluating AIDS-related encephalopathy. Multiple lesions that involve both deep gray matter and white matter suggest the possibility of CNS lymphoma. The "target" appearance on MRI is not helpful in distinguishing toxoplasmosis from lymphoma.     

Coherent motion of a hole in a two-dimensional quantum antiferromagnet

The dispersion relation for the coherent propagation of a hole moving in a two-dimensional quantum antiferromagnet is discussed. The system is described by two model Hamiltonians, thet-J model and thet-t-J model, which have been used frequently to discuss strong electron-correlation effects present in high-T _c superconductors. The calculations are based on the introduction of a new wave function which is constructed by use of equations derived by Shraiman and Siggia. The different mechanisms for the coherent propagation, which are due to the spin fluctuation and the hopping terms of the Hamiltonian, are treated on the same footing. As a result of the inclusion of an effective hopping mechanism along spiral paths-first discussed by Trugman-the minimum of the band is somewhat changed compared to results recently obtained in the literature. For large values of the ratiot/J an inversion of the whole dispersion relation occurs. The overall shapes of the dispersion within both models are found to agree quite well, though for small values oft/J the bandwidth within thet-J model becomes significantly smaller than that of thet-t-J model.     

Many body contributions to the electronic structure of nickel

The full temperature-dependence of the electronic quasiparticle properties of ferromagnetic Ni is investigated by use of a theoretical model, which takes into account all intraatomic interactions in thed-band complex. After introduction of effective spin operators the model-Hamiltonian consists of a one-particle term, an intraband-interaction of Hubbardtype, and an interband-exchange as in thes-f (ord-f model. The one-particle energies are taken from a realistic bandstructure calculation in order to incorporate approximately all those interactions, which are not directly covered by our model. The model contains two parameters, the intraband couplingU and the interband exchangeJ. ChoosingU=6 eV,J=0.4 eV and applying a Green-function technique we get results in almost quantitative agreement with the experiment:T _c=635 K,m(T=0)=0.56 [ _B , Curie-Weiss behaviour of the static susceptibility, satellite peak with temperature-dependent spinpolarization some 6 eV below the chemical potential , exchange splittings atT=0 of order 0.2–0.35 eV. The full temperature-dependencies of the electronic selfenergy, the one-particle spectral density, the quasiparticle density of states, and the quasiparticle bandstructure for two high symmetry directions are derived and discussed.     

Influence of electron correlations on Auger electron —and appearance potential — spectra of solids

Within the framework of the Hubbard-model the influence of electron correlations on AES and APS for a non-degenerate energy band is investigated. Both spectroscopies are determined by the same two-particle Green function which is solved by a diagrammatic vertex-correction method in the Matsubara-formalism. For empty (n=0) and for completely filled (n=2) bands the method turns out to be exact. The spectra are strongly influenced by the Coulomb interactionU/W and by the degreen of band-filling. Already very weakU/W are sufficient for a substantial deviation of APS and AES from the self-fold of the one particle density of states. For intermediate or even strongU/W(>1) the spectra consist of two parts, a relatively broad band-like region and a sharp satellite. As soon as the satellite splits off, it takes practically the whole spectral weight. In all cases the satellite has almost exactly the shape of the free density of states. The two-hole (electron) bound state, which causes the satellite, propagates virtually without scattering through the lattice. For fixedU/W the band occupationn must be below (above) a critical value to push away a satellite in APS (AES). The temperature-dependence of the spectra is non-negligible for partially filled bands (exceptionsn=0,2), being, however, qualitatively not very striking as long as a non-magnetic systems is considered.     

Dependence of “Reststrahlen” bands in far-infrared reflectivity on configuration of GaAs/AlAs multiple quantum well heterostructures

Far infrared reflectivity measurements are performed on a series of GaAs/AlAs multiple quantum well (MQW) heterostructures with systematically varied thicknesses of the constituent layers. In addition to the artificial anisotropy we observe two distinct bulk-like Reststrahlen regions. The widths of the GaAs-like and the AlAs-like Reststrahlen bands strongly depend on the relative thicknesses of the constituent layers of the MQW heterostructures, in excellent agreement with the predictions of the effective-medium theory.Prof. Aldo Cingolani passed away just before the publication of this article. We would like to dedicate this paper to his memory     

Non-characteristic mixed problems for non-linear symmetric hyperbolic systems

In this paper the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the following initial boundary value problem for non-linear symmetric hyperbolic equations of the first order are shown, where M = I ⁺ ? S , has the same from as the Kreiss' condition, but S must be sufficiently small ( I ⁺ is the unit matrix in the space generated by eigenvectors of the matrix ? A · n? , corresponding to positive eigenvalues) and n? is a unit outward vector normal to the boundary. The main result of the paper is obtaining an a priori estimate for non-linear equations. This estimate is obtained for sufficiently small time and norms of given data functions. The existence of solutions is proved by the method of successive approximations, which can be used because at each step such properties as symmetry of matrices and the numbers of positive and negative eigenvalues of the matrix ? A · n? are assured. This can be done because we restrict our attention to such systems of equations for which these properties are satisfied for solutions from some neighbourhood of initial data u ₀. Therefore, using the fact that solutions in the class of continuous functions are sought, these properties can be satisfied for sufficiently small time. Moreover, some examples of initial boundary value problems for equations of hydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics are considered.     

A global existence theorem for the general coagulation–fragmentation equation with unbounded kernels

In this article an existence theorem is proved for the coagulation–fragmentation equation with unbounded kernel rates. Solutions are shown to be in the space X⁺ = {c∈L¹: ∫ (1 + x)∣c(x)∣dx < ∞} whenever the kernels satisfy certain growth properties and the non-negative initial data belong to X⁺. The proof is based on weak L¹ compactness methods applied to suitably chosen approximating equations.