Estimation of eardrum acoustic pressure and of ear canal length from remote points in the canal

Sound pressure distributions in the human ear canal, whether unoccluded or occluded with ear molds, were studied using a probe tube technique. On average, for frequencies below 6 kHz, the measuring probe tube had to be placed within 8 mm of the vertical plane containing the top of the eardrum (TOD), determined optically, in order to obtain sound pressure magnitudes within 6 dB of "eardrum pressure." To obtain that accuracy in all of the eight subjects studied, the probe had to be within 6 mm of the TOD. Since probe location relative to the drum has to be known, a purely acoustic method was developed which can be conveniently used to localize the probe-tip position, utilizing the standing wave property of the sound pressure in the ear canal. The acoustically estimated "drum location" generally lay between the optically determined vertical planes containing the TOD and the umbo. On average, the "drum location" fell 1 mm medial to the TOD. Of the 32 estimates made acoustically in various occluded and unoccluded conditions in 14 subjects, 30 estimates lay within a +/- 2-mm range of this average.     

A two-stage nonlinear cochlear model possesses automatic gain control

A model of the cochlea is explored using as stimuli two simultaneously presented sinusoids of equal amplitude. The model consists of two stages: a linear bandpass filter, followed by a reservoir-type representation of the hair-cell/nerve-fiber complex. Fast Fourier transforms of the model's output were computed. While the amplitudes of the individual response components were strongly nonlinear functions of intensity, the ratio of the magnitudes of the response components at the frequencies of the two stimulating sinusoids was found to be nearly equal, over a wide intensity range, to the ratio of the amplitudes which those stimulating sinusoids possessed at the output of the filter. Thus the reservoir stage exerts "automatic gain control".     

Neutronenaktivierungsanalytische Bestimmung von Osmium in Geologischen Proben

A neutron activation analysis procedure was developed for the determination of osmium in geological materials. The method consists in the measurement of the 129.4 keV γ-rays of¹⁹¹Os after radiochemical separation of osmium. The sample decomposition, the chemical separation process and the optimal measuring conditions are described and discussed.      

Practical asymmetric enzymatic reduction through discovery of a dehydrogenase-compatible biphasic reaction media

[reaction: see text] An enzyme-compatible biphasic reaction media for the asymmetric biocatalytic reduction of ketones with in situ cofactor regeneration has been developed. In this biphasic reaction media, which is advantageous for reactions at higher substrate concentrations, both enzymes (alcohol dehydrogenase and FDH from Candida boidinii) remain stable. The reductions with poorly water-soluble ketones were carried out at substrate concentrations of 10-200 mM, and the optically active (S)-alcohols were formed with moderate to good conversions and with up to >99% ee.     

De novo synthesis of 4'-ethoxy nucleoside analogues

Butenolides 5a and 13 were used as optically active templates in the de novo synthesis of 4'-disubstituted nucleoside analogues. The butenolides were reduced and acylated in situ to give acetates 10 and 14. Vorbrüggen coupling gave the protected nucleoside analogues 11 and 15. Reduction of 11 gave 4'-ethoxy-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (6) and deprotection of 15 gave 4'-ethoxy-2',3'-dideoxydidehydrothymidine (7). The cis-dihydroxylation of a variety of butenolides occurred with the major product formed from oxidation of the beta-face.     

[3+2]-cycloreactions of 1,2-diacylcyclopropenes with ynamines. Aminofurane- versus aminocyclopentadiene-formation

Electron deficient 1,2-diacylcyclopropenes represent synthetic equivalent for both acylcarbenes and vinylcarbenes; in their cycloreaction with ynamines aminofuranes and/or aminocyclopentadienes are formed.     

Heterocyclic Spiro-naphthalenones. Part III. Synthesis and reactions of some spiro [naphthalene-1,2′-pyrrolidin]-2-ones and spiro [naphthalene-2,2′-pyrrolidin]-1-ones

The spironaphthalen-2-ones 2, 10 and 18 were prepared by N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) oxidation of 1, 9 and 17 respectively, whereas spironaphthalen-1-ones 24 and 25 were obtained by treating 23 with NBS. The stereoisomeric reduction products 29, 30 and 32 obtained from 24 and 25 , gave the pentacyclic compound 33 on treatment with polyphosphoric acid.