Two-mass models of the vocal cords for natural sounding voice synthesis

Three new two-mass models of the vocal cords are treated. First, the features, structure, and differential equations of motion are described for each of the new models and compared with those of previous models. Second, performances of the models are discussed in terms of glottal volume flow, glottal area, radiated sound pressure, trajectories of mass movement, running spectra of the output sound pressure, and perceptual naturalness of the output sound. Finally, the major effects of glottal source-vocal tract interaction including skewing, truncation, and superposition are investigated, using one of the simplest types of two-mass models and two types of load representing the vocal tract.     

Nonpeptide arginine vasopressin antagonists for both V1A and V2 receptors: synthesis and pharmacological properties of 4-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1]benzoazepine-6-carbonyl)benzanili de derivatives and 4'-(5,6-dihydro-4H-thiazolo[5,4-d][1]benzoazepine-6-carbonyl)benzanilid e derivatives

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has a dual action mainly in the periphery, i.e., vasoconstriction and water reabsorption via V1A and V2 receptors; it may play a role in a number of diseases, including congestive heart failure (CHF), hypertension, renal disease, edema, and hyponatremia. We have attempted to develop a new series of orally active AVP antagonists for both V1A and V2 receptors based on the hypothesis that the blockade of both V1A and V2 receptors might be beneficial to CHF patients. In this report, a series of compounds structurally related to 4'-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1]benzoazepine-6- carbonyl)benzanilide and 4'-(5,6-dihydro-4H- thiazolo[5,4-d][1]benzoazepine-6-carbonyl)benzanilide were synthesized and examined for AVP antagonist activity for both V1A and V2 receptors. As a result, it was found that the 4'-(1,4,5,6-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1]benzoazepine-6-carbon yl)-2- phenylbenzanilide derivatives showed potent binding affinity for both V1A and V2 receptors. Especially, 4'-(2-methyl-1,4,5,6- tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d][1]benzoazepine-6-carbonyl)-2-phe nylbenzanilide monohydrochloride (18, YM087 = conivaptan hydrochloride) exhibited potent binding affinity and AVP antagonist activity, after intravenous administration, for both V1A and V2 receptors. Furthermore, YM087 exhibited the most potent oral activity for the V2 receptor. Details of the synthesis and pharmacological properties of this series are presented.     

One‐Shot Double Elimination Process: A Practical and Concise Protocol for Diaryl Acetylenes

A variety of diaryl acetylenes were obtained in good yields when lithium hexamethyldisilazide was added to a solution of arylmethyl sulfone, aryl aldehyde, and chlorodiethylphosphate in THF. In this one‐shot process, a number of transformations such as aldol reaction, phosphorylation of aldolate, and double elimination of the resulting β‐substituted sulfone proceeded successively to afford the desired acetylenes. The one‐shot process was accelerated by the substitution of halogen atoms on the phenyl groups, and unsymmetrically substituted diaryl acetylenes were obtained without contamination of the dehalogenated products. Diaryl acetylenes with other substituents such as CF₃, ethoxycarbonyl, dimethylamino, TMS‐acetylene groups, as well as pyridinyl and thienyl moieties were also accessible with this method. However, methoxy‐substituted compounds were obtained in moderate yields under the same conditions, but the yields were increased when lithium diisopropylamide was used instead.     

New organosols of nickel sulfides,palladium sulfides,manganese sulfide,and mixed metal sulfides and their use in preparation of semiconducting polymer-metal sulfide composites

Organosols of NiS, PdS, and MnS in N,N-dimethylformamide were prepared by reaction of the metal acetate with H₂S. Organosols of mixed-metal sulfides (Zn _x Cd_1–x S, Hg _x Cd_1–x S, Hg _x Cu_1–x S, Cd _x Mn_1–x S, Hg _x Mn_1–x S, Hg _x Cd_1–x S, and Mn _x Zn_1–x S) were similarly obtained by reaction of mixtures of the metal salts with H₂S. The organosol of Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S contained particle with two particle size distributions centered at 6.5 nm and 29 nm, as revealed by Ar laser-scattering analysis. The metal sulfides are recovered by addition of Et₂O to the organosols. Zn _x Cd_1–x S thus obtained shows magnetic susceptibility in the range 0.5×10^–6–2.3×10^–6 emug^–1 depending on thex value. Addition of polymers to the organosols affords semiconducting films of metal sulfide-polymer composites.     

Identification of beta-decay of150La

The -decay of¹⁵⁰La, the heaviest isotope of lanthanum, has been identified by observing -rays from mass separated activities obtained at KUR-ISOL. From the decay curves of 97.0 and 208.7 keV -rays in¹⁵⁰Ce and of Ce-K X-ray, the half-life of¹⁵⁰La has been determined as 0.51(3) s. This value is in agreement with theoretical predictions from microscopic theory.     

Interaction of cubosomes with plasma components resulting in the destabilization of cubosomes in plasma

Cubosomes are novel dispersed nanoparticles with bicontinuous cubic phases of monoolein in their interior. We investigated their disintegration process in plasma by in vitro and in vivo studies. Cubosomes were incubated with whole plasma or plasma components such as HDL, LDL, and albumin. The lypolysis study indicated lipolytic activity of whole plasma towards cubosomes. Gel filtration chromatography revealed that HDL, LDL and albumin interacted with cubosomes. HDL affected cubosomes’ integrity and gave rise to smaller particles which contained the components of both cubosomes and HDL. Upon incubation with LDL, cubosomes fused with LDL. Albumin was shown to take up monoolein out of the particles. Cubosomes were disintegrated by whole plasma as a result of the interaction with plasma components. It was concluded that in vivo observation of a long circulation time of a hydrophobic substance in cubosomes was due to the sustained behavior of cubosome remnant particles.     

Sparsely substituted chlorins as core constructs in chlorophyll analogue chemistry. I. Synthesis

Five routes to stable chlorins bearing 0 or 1 meso substituents have been investigated, among which reaction of a 9-bromo-1-formyldipyrromethane and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,3,3-trimethyldipyrrin proved most effective. Application of this route afforded metallochlorins [Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pd(II)] including the chlorin lacking any β-pyrrole and meso substituents.     

Three-component coupling of acylphosphonates and two carbonyl compounds promoted by low-valent samariums: one-Pot synthesis of beta-hydroxyphosphonates

Three-component coupling of acylphosphonates and two carbonyl compounds leading to beta-hydroxyphosphonates has been achieved with low-valent samariums. Thus, acylphosphonates reacted with aldehydes in the presence of semicatalytic amounts of samarium metal or SmI(2) to give acyloxyphosphonates in good yields. The second coupling reaction of the acyloxyphosphonates with aldehydes or ketones promoted by SmI(2) afforded beta-hydroxyphosphonates instead of olefins. Moreover, these two reactions could be carried out in one pot.