Field and intensity correlations in random media

Measurements of the microwave field transmitted through a random medium allows direct access to the field correlation function, whose complex square is the short range or C1 contribution to the intensity correlation function C. The frequency and spatial correlation function are compared to their Fourier pairs, the time of flight distribution and the specific intensity, respectively. The longer range contribution to intensity correlation is obtained directly by subtracting C1 from C and is in good agreement with theory.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.

Deviations from the Gaussian distribution of mesoscopic conductance fluctuations

The conductance distribution of metallic mesoscopic systems is considered. The variance of this distribution describes the universal conductance fluctuations, yielding a Gaussian distribution of the conductance. We calculate diagrammatically the third cumulant of this distribution, the leading deviation from the Gaussian. We confirm random matrix theory calculations that the leading contribution in quasi-one dimension vanishes. However, in quasi two dimensions the third cumulant is negative, whereas in three dimensions it is positive.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex, with eps figures,to appear in Phys Rev

Dynamics and robustness of familiarity memory

When presented with an item or a face, one might have a sense of recognition without the ability to recall when or where the stimulus has been encountered before. This sense of recognition is called familiarity memory. Following previous computational studies of familiarity memory, we investigate the dynamical properties of familiarity discrimination and contrast two different familiarity discriminators: one based on the energy of the neural network and the other based on the time derivative of the energy. We show how the familiarity signal decays rapidly after stimulus presentation. For both discriminators, we calculate the capacity using mean field analysis. Compared to recall capacity (the classical associative memory in Hopfield nets), both the energy and the slope discriminators have bigger capacity, yet the energy-based discriminator has a higher capacity than one based on its time derivative. Finally, both discriminators are found to have a different noise dependence

Intensity Distribution of Waves Transmitted Through a Multiple Scattering Medium

The distributions of the angular transmission coefficient and of the total transmission are calculated for multiple scattered waves. The calculation is based on a mapping to the distribution of eigenvalues of the transmission matrix. The distributions depend on the profile of the incoming beam. The distribution function of the angular transmission has a stretched exponential decay. The total-transmission distribution grows log-normally whereas it decays exponentially.Comment: 8 pages, revtex3.0, 3 postscript figures, NvR0

Increasing feasibility and patient comfort of MRI in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

MRI is the most sensitive imaging modality in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but has practical limitations. Optimizing the scanning protocol is, therefore, necessary to increase feasibility and patient comfort. To determine the feasibility of bilateral non-contrast-enhanced open-bore MRI of knees and to assess the presence of literature-based MRI features in unsedated children with JIA. Children were classified into two clinical subgroups: active arthritis (group 1; n = 29) and inactive disease (group 2; n = 18). MRI features were evaluated using a literature-based score, comprising synovial hypertrophy, cartilage lesions, bone erosions, bone marrow changes, infrapatellar fat pad heterogeneity, effusion, tendinopathy and popliteal lymphadenopathy. The MRI examination was successfully completed in all 47 children. No scan was excluded due to poor image quality. Synovial hypertrophy was more frequent in group 1 (36.2%), but was also seen in 19.4% of the knees in group 2. Infrapatellar fat pad heterogeneity was more prevalent in group 2 (86.1%; P = 0.008). Reproducibility of the score was good (Cohen kappa, 0.49-0.96). Bilateral non-contrast-enhanced open-bore knee MRI is feasible in the assessment of disease activity in unsedated children with JIA. Signs differing among chidren with active and inactive disease include infrapatellar fat pad heterogeneity and synovial hypertroph