On the expectations of the mathematical knowledge of first-year undergraduates

In a recent survey Sutherland and Dewhurst itemized the extent to which various types of departments expected selected mathematical topics in the background of incoming undergraduates. Using the results of diagnostic tests it is possible to estimate the actual capability of students with given prior qualifications to provide a ‘probable preparedness’ in specific topics. This paper compares expectations with probable preparedness in a range of topics. It is found that while some departments have realistic expectations about the background of their incoming students, others seem over-optimistic about the mathematical knowledge of today's students. Sometimes, topics that the department actually requires must in fact be covered ab initio with the students that they recruit.     

Intelligibility ratings of continuous discourse: application to hearing aid selection

Twelve normal-hearing subjects rated the intelligibility of 35-s, hearing-aid-processed continuous discourse (CD) passages. Three talkers (two male, one female), four hearing aids, and two signal-to-babble (S/B) ratios were used in a completely crossed design. Research questions concerned: (1) ability of listeners to rate intelligibility, (2) sensitivity of hearing aid rankings were based on intelligibility ratings for three CD passages per instrument, and (3) dependence of hearing aid rankings on (a) S/B ratio, and (b) talker characteristics. Results were: (1) listeners were able to rate intelligibility, (2) rankings based on intelligibility ratings of three CD passages per hearing aid were capable of identifying two superior instruments within a group of four hearing aids that were similar in frequency/gain function, (3) listening in a more difficult S/B ratio substantially decreased the sensitivity of the hearing aid rankings for the female talker but had only minor effects on the rankings for the male talkers, and (4) hearing aid intelligibility rankings were found to be different for different talkers. Applications to hearing aid selection are discussed.     

13C?13C spin coupling constants in tetrahydronaphthylene,hexahydrobenzanthracene and benzo[a]pyrene derivatives

The ¹³C? ¹³C spin coupling constants have been determined in substituted [1-¹³C]tetrahydronaphthylenes, [5-¹³C]hexahydrobenzanthracenes and [5-¹³C]benzanthracene. In addition, the ¹³C? ¹³C spin coupling constants for 7-hydroxy[7-¹³C]benzopyrene, trans-7,8-dihydro[7-¹³C]benzopyrene-7,8-diol and trans-7,8-dihydro[10-¹³C]benzopyrene-7,8-diol are reported, together with the one-bond carbon-carbon coupling constants between C-4 and C-5 in selected 4,5-disubstituted benzopyrenes. Values for the directly bonded coupling constants and long-range coupling constants are similar to those reported previously for other aromatic and aliphatic systems. Substituent effects on carbon-carbon coupling are compared for similarly substituted cyclic and acyclic systems.     

Product formation in the association reaction of ClO with NO2 investigated by diode laser kinetic spectroscopy

Diode laser spectroscopy has been employed to monitor the formation of chlorine nitrate (ClONO₂) in the association reaction of ClO with NO₂. Chlorine nitrate is the only stable end-product of this reaction at room temperature. Time-resolved measurements of ClONO₂ formation using molecular modulation showed no evidence for any involvement of unstable isomers of ClNO₃ in the reaction. These measurements gave a value of k₁ = (1.8 ± 0.4) × 10^?31 cm⁶/molecule² · s for the reaction at 295 K and an upper limit of 5 ms for the lifetime of any isomeric products at this temperature.     

Local structure of isolated positively charged muonium as an analog for the hydrogen ion in p-type GaAs

We determine the local structure of isolated positively charged muonium (Mu+) in heavily doped p-type GaAs based on muon level crossing resonance and zero applied field muon spin depolarization data. These measurements provide the first direct experimental confirmation that Mu+, and by analogy H+, is located within a stretched Ga-As bond. The distances between Mu+ and the nearest neighbor Ga and As atoms are estimated to be 1.83 +/- 0.10 A; and 1.76 +/- 0.10 A, respectively. These results are compared to existing theoretical calculations on the structure of hydrogen in GaAs and additionally provide data on the induced electric field gradients.     

Difluoromethylene analogues of aspartyl phosphate: the first synthetic inhibitors of aspartate semi-aldehyde dehydrogenase

The difluoromethylene analogue of aspartyl phosphate 6 has been prepared by the fluoride catalysed coupling of diethyl trimethylsilyldifluoromethyl phosphonate with an appropriate aldehyde followed by Dess-Martin oxidation and deprotection; the deprotected compound inhibited (KI 95 microM) aspartate semi-aldehyde dehydrogenase, a key enzyme involved in bacterial amino acid and peptidoglycan biosynthesis.