Resolving NMR signals which are separated in frequency on the order of their line widths requires obtaining the time domain free induction decay for a maximum time tmax = πT2 , where T2 is the transverse relaxation time of the given signals. Unfortunately, samples acquired beyond ∼1.26T2 contribute more noise than signal to the data; and samples in the range of about (0.75-1.26)× T2 have a negligible effect on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Therefore, one must sacrifice SNR to reach evolution times of πT2 . One can preserve resolution in a shorter total experimental time by selecting a reduced set of samples from the Nyquist grid according to an exponential probability density which is on the order of the T2 of the signals. This practice is widely termed nonuniform sampling (NUS). We derive analytic theory for the enhancement of the intrinsic SNR of NUS time domain data compared with uniformly sampled data when the total experimental times are equivalent. This theory is general for any tmax and exponential weighting and is further carefully validated with simulations. Enhancements of SNR in the time domain on the order of twofold are routinely available when tmax ∼ πT2 and are reflected in the subsequent maximum entropy reconstructed spectra. SNR enhancement by NUS is demonstrated to be helpful in enabling the acquisition of HMQC spectra of dilute bile salts in which high resolution in the indirect carbon dimension is required.

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Conductive hearing loss, produced by otitis media with effusion, is widespread in young children. However, little is known about its short- or long-term effects on hearing or the brain. To study the consequences of a conductive loss for the perception and processing of sounds, we plugged the left ear canal of ferrets for 7-15 months during either infancy or adulthood. Before or during plugging, the ferrets were trained to perform a binaural task requiring the detection of a 500 Hz tone, positioned 90 degrees to the right, that was masked by two sources of broad-band noise. In one condition ("control"), both noise sources were 90 degrees right and, in the second condition ("bilateral"), one noise source was moved to 90 degrees left. Normal ferrets showed binaural unmasking: tone detection thresholds were lower (mean 10.1 dB) for the bilateral condition than for the control condition. Both groups of ear-plugged ferrets had reduced unmasking; the mean residual unmasking was 2.3 dB for the infant and 0.7 dB for the adult ear-plugged animals. After unplugging, unmasking increased in both groups (infant, 7.1 dB; adult, 6.9 dB) but not to normal levels. Repeated testing during the 22 months after unplugging revealed a gradual return to normal levels of unmasking. These results show that a unilateral conductive hearing loss, in either infancy or adulthood, impairs binaural hearing both during and after the hearing loss. They show scant evidence for adaptation to the plug and demonstrate a recovery from the impairment that occurs over a period of several months after restoration of normal peripheral function.

Dynamic changes in electrophysiology of brainstem auditory neurons during the first month after birth were studied in 51 term infants after perinatal asphyxia using maximum length sequence brainstem auditory evoked responses. The responses were recorded on d 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 30 after birth. On d 1, wave III and V latencies and all interpeak intervals increased significantly at all repetition rates of clicks used (91-910/s), especially the higher rates (ANOVA, p Ͻ 0.05-0.0001). On d 3, all these latencies and intervals increased further and differed more significantly from the normal control subjects. Thereafter, the latencies and intervals decreased progressively. On d 7, wave V latency and all intervals still differed significantly from the control subjects. These dynamic changes were more significant at higher rates of clicks than at lower rates. On d 10 and 15, all intervals decreased significantly. On d 30, all wave latencies decreased to the values in the normal control subjects on the same day. The intervals also approached normal values, although the III-V and I-V intervals still increased slightly. These results indicate that hypoxic-ischemic brain damage persists during the first week, with a peak on d 3, and recovers progressively thereafter. By 1 mo, the damage has largely returned to normal. Maximum length sequence brainstem auditory evoked responses results correlated well with the stage of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy during the first week. The present study revealed a general time course of brainstem pathophysiology after asphyxia, although there were individual variations. Our findings can be used as a reference to monitor cerebral function and help judge the value of neuroprotective or therapeutic interventions. The first week, particularly the first 3 d, is a critical period of hypoxic-ischemic brain damage, and early intervention may prevent or reduce deterioration of the damage. Abbreviations BAER, brainstem auditory evoked response dB nHL, decibel normal hearing level HI, hypoxia-ischemia HIE, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy HII, hypoxic-ischemic insult MLS, maximum length sequence There is growing evidence to suggest that HII after asphyxia produces permanent brain damage by processes that continue for many hours after the insult (1-3). The neurotoxic cascade leads to delayed cell death hours, days, or months later. This may provide an opportunity for early therapy aimed at preventing further damage of the brain. However, further study of the pathophysiologic process of HI brain damage, especially during the critical period, is of great importance for planning any intervention with neuroprotective and therapeutic measures (4 -8).A major neuropathologic pattern of HIE in term infants is known to be selective neuronal necrosis. After perinatal asphyxia discrete lesions are very common in the brainstem (9 -11). In acute total asphyxia there is extensive neuronal necrosis. The damage preferentially affects the brainstem, thalamus, and basal ganglia with the cerebral cortex being relat...