A frequency-selective feedback model of auditory efferent suppression and its implications for the recognition of speech in noise

The potential contribution of the peripheral auditory efferent system to our understanding of speech in a background of competing noise was studied using a computer model of the auditory periphery and assessed using an automatic speech recognition system. A previous study had shown that a fixed efferent attenuation applied to all channels of a multi-channel model could improve the recognition of connected digit triplets in noise [G. J. Brown, R. T. Ferry, and R. Meddis, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 127, 943?954 (2010)]. In the current study an anatomically justified feedback loop was used to automatically regulate separate attenuation values for each auditory channel. This arrangement resulted in a further enhancement of speech recognition over fixed-attenuation conditions. Comparisons between multi-talker babble and pink noise interference conditions suggest that the benefit originates from the model?s ability to modify the amount of suppression in each channel separately according to the spectral shape of the interfering sounds

Simplicity of algebras associated to \'etale groupoids

We prove that the C*-algebra of a second-countable, \'etale, amenable groupoid is simple if and only if the groupoid is topologically principal and minimal. We also show that if G has totally disconnected unit space, then the associated complex *-algebra introduced by Steinberg is simple if and only if the interior of the isotropy subgroupoid of G is equal to the unit space and G is minimal.Comment: The introduction has been updated and minor changes have been made throughout. To appear in Semigroup Foru

1^{1}H-NMR spin-echo measurements of the static and dynamic spin properties in λ\lambda-(BETS)2_{2}FeCl4_{4}

$^{1}$H-NMR spin-echo measurements of the spin-echo decay $M(2\tau)$ with a decay rate 1/$T_{2}$ and the frequency shift $\Delta\nu/\nu_{0}$ under applied magnetic field $\mathbf{B}$$_{0}$ = 9 T along the a-axis over a temperature range 2.0$-$180 K are reported for a single crystal of the organic conductor $\lambda$-(BETS)$_{2}$FeCl$_{4}$. It provides the spin dynamic and static properties in the paramagnetic metal (PM) and antiferromagnetic insulator (AFI) states as well as across the PM$-$AFI phase transition. A large slow beat structure in the spin-echo decay is observed with a typical beat frequency of $f$ $\sim$ 7 kHz and it varies across the spectrum. Its origin is attributed to the $^{1}$H$-$$^{1}$H dipole interactions rather than to the much larger dipolar field contribution from the Fe$^{3+}$ electrons (spin $S$ = 5/2). A simple phenomenological model provides an excellent fit to the data. The dominant $^{1}$H-NMR frequency shift comes from the dipolar field from the 3d Fe$^{3+}$ ions, and the Fe$^{3+}$ $-$ Fe$^{3+}$ exchange interactions ($J_{0}$) ($J_{0}$ includes the d$-$d exchange interactions through the $\pi-$electrons) have a substantial effect to the local field at the proton sites expecially at low temperatures. A good fit is obtained with $J_{0}$ = - 1.7 K. The data of the spin-echo decay rate 1/$T_{2}$ indicates that there is a significant change in the slow fluctuations of the local magnetic field at the $^{1}$H-sites on traversing the PM to AFI phase. This evidence supports earlier reports that the PM$-$AFI phase transition in $\lambda$-(BETS)$_{2}$FeCl$_{4}$ is driven magnetically and first order.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figures, resubmitted to Phys. Rev. B in response to comments of Editor and reviewers on March 23, 200