A hypothesis to explain how the sensory cortices respond in the appropriate sensory mode.

How does an area of sensory cortex recognize the specific nature of the sensory mode of the stimulus that arrives from the peripheral sensory receptor, when nerve impulses are only all-or-nothing action potentials? Work in animals has shown that an area of sensory cortex can learn in which mode to respond. A period of cortical learning is required for phantom limb phenomena to develop, and for the ocular blind to dream in the visual mode. Arguing from these facts I develop the hypothesis that within the sensory cortices there are neurons that learn by neurotropic factor transport from their sensory receptors to function as surrogates for those receptors, thus enabling sensory cortical response to be modally specific.

Chlorambucil allergy--a series of three cases.

Three cases of chlorambucil-related skin eruption in patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are described. Cases were confirmed by exclusion of other drugs, rechallenge, skin testing and histology. One patient died due to florid erythema multiforme.

Transient severe hypoplastic anemia in Q fever.

A case of severe transient marrow hypoplasia as a complication of Q fever is described. This caused marked thrombocytopenia and anemia. The patient recovered fully over the period of 1 wk.

Acoustic desensitization of single-mode fibers utilizing nickel coatings.

The pressure sensitivity of the phase of light propagating in a single-mode fiber coated with a thin nickel jacket is determined both analytically and experimentally. The measured acoustic response of the fiber is found to be 1 order of magnitude lower than that of the bare fiber, in agreement with analytical predictions. The technique thus appears to be a promising way for desensitizing optical-fiber leads for use with fiber-optic sensors.

Fiber optic acoustic sensors with composite structure: an analysis.

Fiber optic acoustic sensors with composite structures are analyzed and shown to offer greatly increased acoustic sensitivity. The composite structure consists of an optical fiber coated with or embedded in an elastic material of lower elastic modulus. Sensitivity increases of 10-100 times are indicated.