Properties of an adiabatically cooled SK spin glass

Some physical properties of an SK spin glass subject to slow cooling are investigated. Among those are Edwards-Anderson order parameter, energy, field cooled and zero field cooled susceptibilities. The results are compared with predictions from Parisi's solution. Different values are obtained for the field cooled susceptibility whereas other quantities are identical in both calculations. Ultrametricity results in a natural way if adiabatic temperature changes involving cooling and heating periods are considered. Some results are also given for adiabatic cooling in a finite external field and for adiabatic changes of the field at constant temperature. The present setup allows to investigate explicitly the dependence on history at least for adiabatic changes of temperature and external field.     

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions in hearing-impaired mutant mice

The acoustic intermodulation distortion product (2f1-f2) was recorded in the ear canal of two different types of normally hearing mice and in four different types of hearing-impaired mutant mice. In the normally hearing animals, primary tones at levels of 60- to 100-dB SPL evoked distortion product emissions (DP's) at 20-50 dB below the primary levels. In the hearing-impaired mutants the level was dependent on the particular type of auditory dysfunction associated with the mutation. In both the deafness and the viable dominant spotting mutants, where either the whole organ of Corti or the stria vascularis is affected by the mutation, no DP's could be detected. The quivering mutant has a central auditory dysfunction associated with the nuclei of the superior olivary complex and the lateral lemniscus, with apparently normal cochlear function. DP's at levels and thresholds similar to those in normally hearing animals were recorded in quivering mice. The Bronx Waltzer mutant has a full complement of outer hair cells but only about of 20%-25% inner hair cells. DP's of small amplitude were recorded but the thresholds were raised by about 30 dB. The data suggest that the 2f1-f2 emission can be used as a noninvasive monitor of cochlear function.     

Transients and basins of attraction in neutral network models

Approximate dynamic mean field equations for a generalized Hopfield model are derived, which allow to calculate transient properties of this model. These equations are exact for short times and yield the replica symmetric solution as a stationary solution. They allow reliable computation of retrieval trajectories and basins of attraction of retrieval states, as demonstrated by comparison with simulations. The equations are derived for networks with arbitrary mean activity and results are given for the standard model and for low activities.     

Endoscopic light-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and adenoma

To evaluate the new, bio-optical method of light-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy for the endoscopic in-vivo diagnosis of (pre)-cancerous lesions of the colorectum, 311 endogenous fluorescence spectra were obtained from normal, adenomatous and cancerous colorectal tissue in 11 patients with cancer, six patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, and six patients with multiple adenomatous polyps. A light source delivered either white or violet-blue light for excitation of tissue autofluorescence via a flexible endoscope. Endogenous fluorescence spectra emitted by the tissue were picked up with a fiberoptic probe and analysed with a spectrograph. Biopsies were taken for definitive classification of the spectra. Rectal cancer (n=11) as well as adenomas with severe dysplasia (n=19) showed specific differences between the emitted fluorescence spectra as compared with normal mucosa and hyperplastic polyps. Having applied a mathematical algorithm to the spectra, a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 93% were obtained for the diagnosis of rectal cancer. The equivalent values for the diagnosis of dysplastic ademomas were 98 and 89%, respectively. Light-induced autofluorescence spectroscopy is a new and promising bio-optical procedure for the endoscopic in-vivo diagnosis of colorectal cancer and dysplasia.