Influence of wall vibrations on the behavior of a simplified wind instrument

The issue of the influence of wall vibrations on the behavior of wind instruments is still under debate. The mechanisms of vibroacoustic couplings involved in these vibrations are difficult to investigate, as fluid-structure interactions are weak. Among these vibroacoustic interactions, the present study is focused on the coupling between the internal acoustic field and the mechanical behavior of the duct. For this purpose, a simplified single reed instrument consisting of a brass tube connected to a clarinet mouthpiece has been studied. A theoretical model of coupling between the plane inner acoustic wave and mechanical modes is developed and suggests that in order to obtain measurable effects of wall vibrations, the geometrical parameters of the studied tube have to be unusual compared to that of real instruments. For a slightly oval-shaped and very thin brass tube, it is shown theoretically and experimentally that a coupling between the inner plane acoustic wave and ovalling mechanical modes occurs and results in disturbances of the input impedance, which can slightly affect the tone color of the sound produced. It is concluded that the reported effects are unlikely to occur in real instruments except for some organ pipes.     

Parametric study of EEG sensitivity to phase noise during face processing

Background

The zitter (zi/zi) rat, a loss-of-function mutant of the glycosylated transmembrane protein attractin (atrn), exhibits widespread age-dependent spongiform degeneration, hypomyelination, and abnormal metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain. To date, the mechanisms underlying these phenotypes have remained unclear.

Results

Here, we show differentiation defects in zi/zi oligodendrocytes, accompanied by aberrant extension of cell-processes and hypomyelination. Axonal bundles were relatively preserved during postnatal development. With increasing in age, the injured oligodendrocytes in zi/zi rats become pathological, as evidenced by the accumulation of iron in their cell bodies. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that atrn expression was absent from an oligodendrocyte lineage, including A2B5-positive progenitors and CNPase-positive differentiated cells. The number and distribution of Olig2-positive oligodendrocyte progenitors was unchanged in the zi/zi brain. Furthermore, an in vitro differentiation assay of cultured oligodendrocyte progenitors prepared from zi/zi brains revealed their normal competence for proliferation and differentiation into mature oligodendrocytes. Interestingly, we demonstrated the accelerated recruitment of ED1-positive macrophages/microglia to the developing zi/zi brain parenchyma prior to the onset of hypomyelination. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed a significant up-regulation of CD26 and IL1-β in the zi/zi brain during this early postnatal stage.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that the onset of the impairment of oligodendrocyte differentiation occurs in a non-cell autonomous manner in zi/zi rats. Hypomyelination of oligodendrocytes was not due to a failure of the intrinsic program of oligodendrocytes, but rather, was caused by extrinsic factors that interrupt oligodendrocyte development. It is likely that macrophage/microglial activation in the zi/zi CNS leads to disturbances in oligodendrocyte differentiation via deleterious extrinsic factors, such as the cytokine IL1-β or ROS. Atrn might be involved in the activation of brain macrophages/microglia by suppressing excessive migration of monocytes into the CNS, or by accelerating the transformation of brain monocytes into resting microglia. Understanding the pathogenesis of the zi/zi rat may provide novel insights into the developmental interaction betweens macrophages/microglia and cells of an oligodendrocyte lineage.     

Twisted vortex filaments in the three-dimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau equation

The structure and dynamics of vortex filaments that form the cores of scroll waves in three-dimensional oscillatory media described by the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation are investigated. The study focuses on the role that twist plays in determining the bifurcation structure in various regions of the (alpha,beta) parameter space of this equation. As the degree of twist increases, initially straight filaments first undergo a Hopf bifurcation to helical filaments; further increase in the twist leads to a secondary Hopf bifurcation that results in supercoiled helices. In addition, localized states composed of superhelical segments interspersed with helical segments are found. If the twist is zero, zigzag filaments are found in certain regions of the parameter space. In very large systems disordered states comprising zigzag and helical segments with positive and negative senses exist. The behavior of vortex filaments in different regions of the parameter space is explored in some detail. In particular, an instability for nonzero twist near the alpha=beta line suggests the existence of a nonsaturating state that reduces the stability domain of straight filaments. The results are obtained through extensive simulations of the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation on large domains for long times, in conjunction with simulations on equivalent two-dimensional reductions of this equation and analytical considerations based on topological concepts.     

Sampling complex-valued incoherent fourier spectra

We address the general case of sampling the Fourier spectrum of an incoherent object by extending the possibilities of the computerized optical sampler described in a previous paper. Because such a spectrum is hermitian, pairs of sampling slits are still used as pupils of an imaging system; but we take advantage of multiple measurements performed in the image plane for computing the amplitude and phase of each spectral component. The principle of multiplexed measurements within a given frequencies band, using a white light source, is suggested as a conclusion.     

Luminescence line shape of free excitons in pure Ge

We report luminescence experiments performed in pure Ge at low temperature. Taking into account the splitting of the ground state of free excitons in this material, we show that their emission line shape is subject to a Gaussian broadening which seems to be due to the phonon lifetime. From this study, we deduce new values of the binding energy of electron-hole drops in Ge and Si which are respectively -2 and -5.6meV.     

Variation of Raman spectrum after optical excitation in amorphous As2Se3 at 1.6°K

Several experiments, involving electronic states have shown that amorphous As₂Se₃ is modified at low temperature by the action of not very strongly absorbed light (α～10²cm^?1). This paper presents Raman scattering results before and after illumination. The shape of the Raman spectrum is changed by illumination: its high energy side has grown near 260 cm^?1. This light induced modification of the vibrational states is discussed within the framework of a previous qualitative model involving changes in local atomic configuration.     

A convenient protocol for the synthesis of ligands from a 4-methyl-3,5-diacylaminophenyl platform

The synthesis of stable and highly organized phenanthroline, terpyridine, and pyridino-oxazoline ligands bearing one or two 4-methyl-3,5-diacylaminophenyl modules equipped with two lateral dialkoxyphenyl groups has been performed using EDC.HCl and DMAP reagents in the final coupling reaction. Evidently, in the final ligands and in the solid state intermolecular hydrogen bonding maintains the coherence of the tridimensional structure as clearly evidenced by FT-IR and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy in the cases of the methoxy ligands. The supramolecular packing is also maintained by additional pi-pi stacking interactions.     

Constituents from leaves of Quillaja brasiliensis

A new abietane diterpene, the 19-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside of 16-hydroxylambertic acid was isolated from the leaves of Quillaja brasiliensis together with a known prosapogenin (3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-quillaic acid), quercetin, and rutin. The new compound was identified by chemical and spectroscopic methods.     

Luminescence lineshape of free excitons and electron-hole drops in Si

We study experimentally and theoretically the lineshape of the TO-LO and TA phonon assisted luminescence of free excitons and electron-hole drops in Si. We show that, in the case of the TA replica, the appropriate electron-phonon matrix element should be taken k-dependent, contrary to previous investigations.     

Electron-hole droplets size at equilibrium

A finite lifetime τ implies that the liquid phase can only form droplets of finite size. Introducing this finite τ in the usual nucleation theory, one can obtain analytical expressions for the electron-hole droplets size, number and exciton density at steady state, in the limit of large τ. This equilibrium size results, in fact, from a Maxwell construction on an appropriate chemical potential.