Intensity discrimination of pulsed tones by the goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Intensity discrimination thresholds for 500-ms pure-tone bursts were measured as a function of frequency in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) using classical respiratory conditioning. At 55-dB sensation level (SL), thresholds range from 1.44-2.2 dB between 100 and 1600 Hz. There is not important effect of frequency on intensity discrimination. Thresholds at 35-dB SL average 0.7 dB higher than at 55-dB SL. This is a small difference in the context of the threshold variability. In intensity discrimination acuity, the goldfish is quantitatively similar to other vertebrates, including birds and mammals.     

On the consistent histories approach to quantum mechanics

We review the consistent histories formulations of quantum mechanics developed by Griffiths, Omnès, and Gell-Mann and Hartle, and describe the classification of consistent sets. We illustrate some general features of consistent sets by a few simple lemmas and examples. We consider various interpretations of the formalism, and examine the new problems which arise in reconstructing the past and predicting the future. It is shown that Omnès' characterization of true statements—statements which can be deduced unconditionally in his interpretation—is incorrect. We examine critically Gell-Mann and Hartle's interpretation of the formalism, and in particular their discussions of communication, prediction, and retrodiction, and conclude that their explanation of the apparent persistence of quasiclassicality relies on assumptions about an as-yetunknown theory of experience. Our overall conclusion is that the consistent histories approach illustrates the need to supplement quantum mechanics by some selection principle in order to produce a fundamental theory capable of unconditional predictions.     

The temporal evolution of masking and frequency selectivity in the goldfish (Carassius auratus)

The temporal evolution of masking and frequency selectivity was studied in the goldfish using classical respiratory conditioning and a tracking psychophysical procedure. The temporal position of a brief tonal signal within a longer duration, tonal masker has little or no effect on signal detectability when the frequency of the masker is less than or equal to that of the signal. For masker frequencies above that of the signal, signal detectability improves as the signal onset is delayed relative to that of the masker. These patterns of tone-on-tone masking are quite similar to those observed for humans. These temporal masking patterns are qualitatively similar in shape to the peristimulus-time histogram profiles of the low-frequency saccular fibers thought to be used in this task. Frequency- and time-dependent changes in signal detectability result in specific changes in the sharpness of psychophysical tuning curves (PTC). In general, PTCs determined for signals occurring at masker onset are the most broadly tuned, and PTCs determined in forward masking are the most sharply tuned. The PTCs for signals temporally centered in the masker are intermediate. These results suggest that temporal tone-on-tone masking patterns and the temporal evolution of psychophysical tuning curves result from the response properties of peripheral auditory-nerve fibers.     

Tandem mass spectrometric accurate mass performance of time-of-flight and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: a case study with pyridine derivatives

The interpretation of mass spectra is a key process during compound identification, and the combination of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with high-accuracy mass measurements may deliver crucial information on the identity of a compound. Obtaining accurate mass data of fragment ions in MS/MS reveals the particular problem of mass calibration when a lockmass, which is frequently used to obtain accurate masses in MS, is absent. An alternative technique is to recalibrate the MS/MS spectrum using a reference MS/MS spectrum acquired under the same conditions. We have tested and validated this approach using a hybrid quadrupole/orthogonal acceleration reflectron-type time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer. The results were compared with those obtained under similar conditions on a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) instrument. We found that the mass accuracy observed with such an "external" recalibration on the TOF instrument in MS/MS is identical to what can be obtained on a similar instrument operating in one-dimensional MS mode using the lockmass technique. However, mass accuracy in both cases is one order of magnitude inferior to that obtained using FTMS, and also inferior to that observed using sector field MS when operated at comparable resolution. Nevertheless, for small (<200 Da) molecules, this mass accuracy was still sufficient to have the "true" elemental composition identified as the first hit in about 70% of all cases. It was possible to elucidate the fragmentation mechanism of eight azaheterocycles containing a pyridine moiety, where the accurate mass data from the TOF instrument allowed distinction between two alternative fragmentation pathways.     

Bulk and compound-specific isotopic characterisation of illicit heroin and cling film

Comparative analysis involves various but complementary methods and can be used for forensic intelligence purposes to group seizures of heroin into batches. Much forensic analysis now combines expertise in the traditional area of drugs investigation with a detailed understanding of supply, packaging, distribution, and drugs intelligence. It was the intention of this research to determine whether illicit heroin seizures and packaging material can be grouped according to isotopic compositions, and to explore factors that affect the isotopic compositions. In order to achieve these aims, 14 samples of seized heroin, thirteen provided by Avon and Somerset Constabulary (UK), were analysed by elemental analysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS) and gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) for carbon and hydrogen isotopes. These tests elucidated that a combination of the delta13C, delta15N, delta18O and delta2H results from EA/IRMS is able to distinguish between most samples of bulk heroin. We speculate that the delta13C values of the alkaloids, obtained by GC/C/IRMS, give indications of different geographical or temporal origins of some of the heroin samples. GC/C/IRMS of the cutting agent, caffeine, provides a means to link dilution events. Fifteen retail cling film samples and seven cling film samples from heroin seizures were analysed by EA/IRMS. A multivariate comparison of the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios was able to distinguish between most of the samples. This technique enabled the cling films from the heroin to be grouped according to seizure. Three solvents were tested on two samples of cling film of known composition. Methanol and chloroform were both found to extract material from PVC and from non-PVC cling films. Water-treated PVC was indistinguishable from the untreated PVC and thus water was found to be the most suitable solvent when washing cling film prior to IRMS analysis.     

Using the homotopy method to find periodic solutions of forced nonlinear differential equations

This paper discusses a result of Li and Shen which proves the existence of a unique periodic solution for the differential equation x + k [xdot] + g(x,t) = ε(t) where k is a constant; g is continuous, continuously differentiable with respect to x, and is periodic of period P in the variable t; ε(t) is continuous and periodic of period P, and when ?g/?x satisfies some additional boundedness conditions. This means that there exist initial values x(0) = α* and [xdot] (0) = β* so that the solution to the corresponding initial value problem is periodic of period P and is unique (up to a translation of the time variable) with this property. The proof of this result is constructive, so that starting with any initial conditions x(0) = α and [xdot](0) = β, a path in the phase plane can be produced, starting at (α, β) and terminating at (α*, β*). Both the theoretical proof and a constructive proof are discussed and a Mathematica implementation developed which yields an algorithm in the form of a Mathematica notebook (which is posted on the webpage http://pax.st.usm.edu/downloads). The algorithm is robust and can be used on differential equations whose terms do not satisfy Li and Shen's hypotheses. The ideas used reinforce concepts from beginning courses in ordinary differential equations, linear algebra, and numerical analysis.