Test-retest reliability of high-frequency thresholds at bedside with sensorineural hearing-impaired listeners

Previous investigations have established the reliability of high-frequency thresholds performed in a sound suite using headphones. In addition, test-retest reliability of high-frequency thresholds in adults with normal hearing in a hospital room versus a sound-treated booth has also been established. The current study evaluated the test-retest reliability of thresholds in the 8000- to 18000-Hz range in 15 hearing-impaired adults (26 ears) with varying degrees of sensorineural hearing loss. A high-frequency audiometer and supra-aural earphones were used to measure thresholds in a typical hospital room. Results revealed no significant difference between repeated threshold measures. This study represents the third phase of an ongoing project to develop reliable bedside monitoring of patients undergoing ototoxic medical treatment.     

Vereisung von Kabeln

Aerodynamische Instabilität von Seilen als Folge eines durch Eisablagerungen geänderten Querschnitts ist ein bekanntes Phänomen. Da die experimentelle Untersuchung von Vereisungsvorgängen sehr aufwendig ist, soll hier ein numerisches Vereisungsmodell vorgestellt werden. Das numerische Modell besteht aus zwei Berechnungsschritten: Zunächst wird die Strömung aus Luft und Niederschlagspartikeln als einfach gekoppelte Zweiphasenströmung berechnet. Basierend auf dem Massestrom der Niederschlagspartikel wird dann das Eiswachstum ermittelt. Die neue Geometrie dient dann als Grundlage für die nächste Strömungsberechnung. Ice accretion on cables. Aerodynamic instability of cables due to ice accretion is a known phenomenon. Investigating the shape and density of the ice accretion by experiments is very complex. Therefore a numerical model is presented to simulate ice accretion processes on cables. The model is divided into two main parts, the calculation of the flow field and the ice accretion. The stream of air and precipitation particles is modeled as a one‐way coupled multiphase flow. Ice accretion and flow field are calculated iteratively to account for geometrical changes of the ice deposit in the flow calculation.     

Kinetics of Americium(III) Extraction and Back Extraction with BTP

Abstract

2,6‐Di(5,6‐dipropyl‐1,2,4‐triazin‐3‐yl)pyridine (BTP) extracts trivalent actinides from nitric acid with high separation factors over the lanthanides. The kinetics of americium(III) extraction and back extraction of this extraction system was studied in a constant‐interface stirred cell. The americium(III) extraction rate was found to be independent of the stirring speed. This means that the rate of mass transfer is limited by a slow chemical complexation reaction (“chemical regime”). The americium(III) extraction rate was found to increase linearly with BTP concentration. Nitric acid concentration had a strong influence on the rate of the americium(III) extraction, due to its influence on the free extractant concentration. The addition of ammonium nitrate did not affect the rate of americium(III) extraction. By investigating the influence of the interfacial area on the americium(III) extraction rate, the interface was identified as the site of the chemical reaction. The americium(III) back extraction rate increased linearly with the stirring speed, indicating that the back extraction is limited by diffusion. The extraction and the back extraction rates could be calculated by a simple model based on equilibrium data for the co‐extraction of americium(III) and nitric acid.