Round Window Stimulation of the Cochlea

Mixed hearing loss associated with a sensorineural component and an impaired conductive mechanism for sound from the external ear canal to the cochlea represents a challenge for rehabilitation using either surgery or traditional hearing amplification. Direct stimulations of the ossicular chain and the round window (RW) membrane have allowed an improved hearing in this population. The authors review the developments in basic and clinical research that have allowed the exploration of new routes for inner ear stimulation. Similar changes occur in the electrophysiological measures in response to auditory stimulation through the traditional route and direct mechanical stimulation of the RW. The latter has proven to be very effective as a means of hearing rehabilitation in a group of patients with significant difficulties with hearing and communication.

Study on the Electrical Conductivity of Inorganic Conductive Network in Sediments

The inorganic conductive network provides an essential channel for electron transport and supports the biogeochemical process in sediments, but the conductive mechanism of conductive network is not well understood. In this work, theory of circuit and electronics was applied to build a three-dimensional (3D) resistivity network simulation model for exploring the conductive mechanism and analysing the effect of the particle size on the conductive characteristic of inorganic conductive network. In order to simulate the real sediment environment, inorganic composites with silica (SiO2) particles as matrix using magnetite (Fe3O4) particles as fillers are constructed. The simulation results reveal that the electrical conductivity of these composites rises nonlinearly with the increasing volume fraction of conductive fillers, which is consistent with the percolation theory. Moreover, small-sized conductive particles or large-sized matrix particles are confirmed to exert a positive part in enhancing electrical conductivity of composites.

Scale production of conductive cotton yarns by sizing process and its conductive mechanism

Conductive yarn is an important component and connector of electronic and intelligent textiles, and with the development of high-performance and low-cost conductive yarns, it has attracted more attention. Herein, a simple, scalable sizing process was introduced to prepare the graphene-coated conductive cotton yarns. The electron conductive mechanism of fibers and yarns were studied by the percolation and binomial distribution theory, respectively. The conductive paths are formed due to the conductive fibers' contact with each other, and the results revealed that the connection probability of the fibers in the yarn (p) is proportional to the square of the fibers filling coefficient (φ) as p ∝ φ2. The calculation formula of the staple spun yarn resistance can be derived from this conclusion and verified by experiments, which further proves the feasibility of produce conductive cotton yarns by sizing process.

Effect of Different Carbon Materials on the Conductivity of Epoxy Resin Conductive Coatings

In this work, the conductive coating was prepared by electrostatic spraying with graphene and Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) as conductive medium and epoxy resin powder as film-forming material, in order to solve the pro·blem of high content and uneven dispersity of conductive particles in conductive coatings prepared by brushing method. The resistance of the coating was measured by four probe method, the dispersity of conductive particles in the coating was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the conductive mechanism of the coating was analyzed by percolation theory model. The results show that the conductive particles can be dispersed evenly in the whole coating by electrostatic force. Meanwhile, the electrostatic force can also stretch the conductive particles in the coating along the direction of the thickness of that. The flake graphene is vertically arranged in the coating, and the curled MWCNTs forms the conductive network of "island-bridge" structure. The conductive particles laped each other to form a conductive path, which greatly reduced the content of conductive particles. The seepage threshold of graphene conductive coating was only 1.5 wt.%, which lower than that of the MWCNTs conductive coating, which is 3 wt.%. The resistance of epoxy coating containing with 0.5 wt.% graphene is 3397 Ω·m, and that of epoxy coating containing with 0.5 wt.% MWCNTs is 1049 Ω·m.

Investigation of Conductive Mechanism of Amorphous IGO Resistive Random-Access Memory with Different Top Electrode Metal

In this paper, resistive random-access memory (RRAM) with InGaO (IGO) as an active layer was fabricated by radio-frequency (RF) sputtering system and the resistive switching mechanism with the different top electrode (TE) of Pt, Ti, and Al were investigated. The Pt/IGO/Pt/Ti RRAM exhibits typical bipolar resistive switching features with an average set voltage of 1.73 V, average reset voltage of −0.60 V, average high resistance state (HRS) of 54,954.09 Ω, and the average low resistance state (LRS) of 64.97 Ω, respectively. Ti and Al were substituted for Pt as TE, and the conductive mechanism was different from TE of Pt. When Ti and Al were deposited onto the switching layer, both TE of Ti and Al will form oxidation of TiOx and AlOx because of their high activity to oxygen. The oxidation will have different effects on the forming of filaments, which may further affect the RRAM performance. The details of different mechanisms caused by different TE will be discussed. In brief, IGO is an excellent candidate for the RRAM device and with the aids of TiOx, the set voltage, and reset voltage, HRS and LRS become much more stable.

Hard of hearing as a presenting complaint in patients with chronic otitis media

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Chronic otitis media (COM) is highly prevalent disease of middle ear. Common presenting complaint is ear discharge. Though pathogenesis of COM involves alteration of conductive mechanism of hearing, it has been observed that hard of hearing (HOH) is not the presenting complaint in all cases of COM. Therefore, this study is taken up to know prevalence of hard of hearing as a presenting complaint in patients with COM.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> 100 patients were taken up for study. Detailed history and examination were done. The samples were assessed based on gender, age, presenting complaints, duration between onset of ear discharge and HOH and the type of hearing loss. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Out of 100 patients with COM, HOH was presenting complaint in 60%. Ear discharge was most common complaint. In 10% HOH was the only complaint. Among 40% who did not complain of HOH, 24% gave history of HOH and 16% patients denied any history of HOH.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Though pathogenesis of COM involves alteration of conductive mechanism of hearing but yet not all patients of COM present with or give history of HOH. In COM as the disease process advances slowly, the patient appears to adapt to the loss so that thresholds of 30-40 dB HL are common with little complaint from the patient. Our present study indicated that among 100 patients, 84 patients presented with or gave history of HOH and 16 patients did not have presenting complaint or history of HOH but those 16 patients were proved to be having conductive hearing loss on examination.</p><p class="abstract"> </p>