A Metropolis Monte Carlo Implementation of Bayesian Time-Domain Parameter Estimation: Application to Coupling Constant Estimation from Antiphase Multiplets

The Bayesian perspective on statistics asserts that it makes sense to speak of a probability of an unknown parameter having a particular value. Given a model for an observed, noise-corrupted signal, we may use Bayesian methods to estimate not only the most probable value for each parameter but also their distributions. We present an implementation of the Bayesian parameter estimation formalism developed by G. L. Bretthorst (1990,J. Magn. Reson.88, 533) using the Metropolis Monte Carlo sampling algorithm to perform the parameter and error estimation. This allows us to make very few assumptions about the shape of the posterior distribution, and allows the easy introduction of prior knowledge about constraints among the model parameters. We present evidence that the error estimates obtained in this manner are realistic, and that the Monte Carlo approach can be used to accurately estimate coupling constants from antiphase doublets in synthetic and experimental data.     

Effect of the susceptibility on the magnetic phase diagrams of a ferrimagnet with magnetic instability

The magnetic phase diagrams of a two-sublattice ferrimagnet with a magnetically unstable subsystem are calculated taking account of the susceptibility. Analytic expressions are obtained for the phase-transition fields and critical values of the parameters of the ferrimagnet. The evolution of the magnetic phase diagrams as the susceptibility of the unstable sublattice increases is analyzed.     

Separation and Enrichment of the Active Component of Carbon Based Paramagnetic Materials for Use in EPR Oximetry

Carbon based paramagnetic materials are frequently used for EPR oximetry, especiallyin vivo,but the EPR spectra of these materials often have more than one paramagnetic center and/or relatively low signal intensity. To determine whether the multi-components of carbon based materials could be separated and enriched in the active component, we used density gradient centrifugation to separate the materials into several fractions. We studied two types of coals, gloxy and Pocahontas, and found these materials to have large density distribution. The separated density fractions had very different EPR spectra and intensities. The active component from the coal material had a more homogeneous EPR signal and significantly increased EPR signal intensity, whereas for India ink, only slight changes were observed. This result can be very useful in the development of better probes for EPR oximetry.     

Rotational bands in 181Ta

High-spin states in ¹⁸¹Ta have been studied via the ¹⁷⁶Yb(¹¹B,α2n) reaction at 52 MeV using the PEX array and at 57 MeV using the NORDBALL array, with α-particle detection. The previously known, K^π=(7/2)⁺ ground state band and K^π=(9/2)⁻ band have been extended to spins (29/2)⁺ and (31/2)⁻, respectively. Two new one-quasiparticle bands, the K^π=(5/2)⁺ band built on the known (5/2)⁺ isomer and a K^π=((1/2)⁻) band have been observed. Two other rotational bands with three-quasiparticle structure, K^π=(15/2)⁻ and ((19/2)⁺ with π(7/2)[404]ν²(1/2)[510](9/2)[624] and π(9/2)[514]ν²(1/2)[510](9/2)[624] configurations, respectively, have been newly observed. The half-life of the K^π=((19/2)⁺) bandhead which decays to the head of the (15/2)⁻ band has been measured to be 140(36) ns. However, transitions from the ((19/2)⁺) state to the (15/2)⁻ band have not been observed. Received: 26 August 1998     

Rheological behaviour and shear thickening exhibited by aqueous CTAB micellar solutions

In this experimental work we carefully investigate the rheological behaviour and in particular the shear thickening exhibited by aqueous micellar solutions of CTAB with NaSal as added counterion. We are particularly interested in the evolution of the critical shear rate (at which shear thickening occurs) versus C _D , the surfactant concentration. We show that , at fixed salt concentration C _S , increases with C _D following a power law evolution with a positive exponent of + 5.8. On the other hand we show that if the ratio C _D / C _S is fixed, decreases with C _D with a negative exponent of -2.0. Nevertheless investigations of the zero shear viscosity indicate that in all situations (implying variation of the surfactant concentration C _D , or the salt concentration C _S or the temperature) is a decreasing function of the length of the micelles. All these evolutions are compatible with a gelation mechanism which could possibly be associated with entanglement effects of large interacting flowing structures. Received: 3 March 1998 / Revised: 16 June 1998 / Accepted: 3 July 1998     

Thickness dependence of exciton absorption in pure GaAs crystals at the “prequantum” limit

The optical absorption of GaAs crystals with thicknesses d=0.4−4.4 μm is measured in the exciton-polariton resonance region at a temperature of 1.7 K. As the thickness is reduced, both a broadening of the exciton line and increased absorption with a negligible Stark shift are observed. The way the absorption spectra vary with crystal thickness is examined in terms of a competition between two regions for light-exciton interactions in the crystal: in the field of surface charges and electric-field free. Fiz. Tverd. Tela (St. Petersburg) 40, 869–871 (May 1998)     

Rotational Motion of a Solute Molecule in a Highly Viscous Liquid Studied byC NMR: 1,3-Dibromoadamantane in Polymeric Chlorotrifluoroethene

The viscosity-dependent retarding effect of a polymeric solvent on the rotation of small solute molecules is investigated by¹³C NMR relaxation measurements. It is found that the relaxation data of 1,3-dibromoadamantane in highly viscous polymeric chlorotrifluoroethene can be explained neither by isotropic nor by realistic anisotropic tumbling in a single environment. The experimental data are rationalized in terms of fast exchange between at least two environments with correlation times differing by up to two orders of magnitude. The study shows that a uniform retardation of molecular tumbling by a polymeric solvent, desirable for shifting the NMR observation window in studies of intramolecular mobility, is not always feasible.     

Spectroscopic characteristics of relaxing systems

The motion of a relaxing system can be revealed by its optical properties. the computed emission spectrum of an excited solid-state impurity in a crystal, which relaxes towards the equilibrium position, exhibits a series of peaks revealing the stops at the classical turning points. Detection limits are discussed.     

A review of otoacoustic emissions

Otoacoustic emissions measured in the external ear canal describe responses that the cochlea generates in the form of acoustic energy. For the convenience of discussing their principal features, emitted responses can be classified into several categories according to the type of stimulation used to evoke them. On this basis, four distinct but interrelated classes can be distinguished including spontaneous, transiently evoked, stimulus-frequency, and distortion-product otoacoustic emissions. The present review details the findings that have been described for each emission type according to this classification schema. Additionally, the known features of emitted responses are discussed for both normally hearing and hearing-impaired humans and experimental animals, and with respect to their potential clinical applications. The findings reviewed here clearly indicate that future studies of otoacoustic emissions will significantly increase our understanding of the basic mechanisms of cochlear function while, at the same time, provide a new and important clinical tool.