Fourth Pattern Research Articles

The essence of spirituality of terminally ill patients.

The purpose of this hermeneutic study was to investigate the essence of spirituality of terminally ill patients. In-depth unstructured interviews were used as the method for data collection. In the six-month period of data collection, the researcher was in the role of a hospice palliative care consultant who directly took care of the subject patients in a hospice ward of a teaching hospital. The six subjects were selected purposively according to various demographic backgrounds. Interview transcripts provided the data for analysis. The results were composed of four constitutive patterns and ten themes. The first constitutive pattern was "Communion with Self" which included three themes: (1) Self-identity--spirituality is the discovery of the authentic self. (2) Wholeness--a human being is full of contradictions but still in wholeness. (3) Inner peace--spirituality is negotiating conflicts for self-reconciliation. The second constitutive pattern was "Communion with others" which included two themes: (1) Love--spirituality is a caring relationship but not an over-attachment to others. (2) Reconciliation--spirituality is to forgive and to be forgiven. The third constitutive pattern was "Communion with Nature" which included two themes: (1) Inspiration from the nature--spirituality is the resonance of the marvelous beauty of nature. (2) Creativity--spirituality is conceiving imaginatively. The fourth constitutive pattern was "Communion with Higher Being" which included three themes: (1) Faithfulness--spirituality is keeping the trust dependably. (2) Hope--spirituality is claiming possibilities. (3) Gratitude--spirituality is giving thanks and embracing grace. The scientific rigor of this qualitative research as well as the strength and limitations of the study are reported. Implications for hospice palliative care and future research are recommended.

Radiographic study on the natural history of advanced osteoarthritis of the hip joint

We investigated the radiographic changes in 22 hip joints of 17 patients with secondary advanced osteoarthritis of the hip who received conservative treatment for more than 10 years. Arthritic changes progressed in 16 out of 22 joints (73%) and the remaining six joints (26%) did not change. Remodeling occurred in 15 of the hips (68%). During this process, joint congruity improved markedly in eight hips, so the number with good joint congruity increased from 13 (59%) to 21 (95%). In the remaining one hip, remodeling did not occur and joint incongruity was persistent. In this series, there were four radiographic patterns. One pattern was that the hip maintained good joint congruity without progression of osteoarthritis for more than 10 years (five joints, 23%). The second pattern was that hips with good joint congruity initially improved further after remodeling (eight joints, 36%). The third pattern was that hips with joint incongruity initially underwent remodeling to achieve good joint congruity with the passage of time (eght joints, 36%). The fourth pattern was that one hip showed persistent joint incongruity without remodeling (one joint, 5%). Clinically, hip pain did not worsen significantly, but moderate (approximately 70% decrease) limitation of flexion and abduction occurred eventually. These findings suggest that some patients with advanced osteoarthritis of the hip with good joint congruity or hips showing remodeling may be suitable for conservative treatment, especially in younger patients.

Attachment Disorganization

Attachment Disorganization

Evolution of Scorpion Orthobothriotaxy: A Cladistic Approach

This study presents a cladistic analysis of the derivation of orthobothriotaxic patterns in scorpions. Included in this analysis are the original three orthobothriotaxic patterns defined by Vachon (1972, 1974), the pattern of the unique scorpion Pseudochactas ovchinnikovi Gromov, 1998, and two trichobothrial patterns of fossil scorpions, the Upper Carboniferous palaeopisthacanthids and the Lower Cretaceous archaeobuthids. An overview of all fossil scorpion material where trichobothria are reported is presented in detail. The approach used in this analysis is to model the existence of an individual trichobothrium, adopting the ‘absence of’, ‘petite size’ and ‘full size’ as incremental stages of a trichobothrium’s development. Of particular interest is the phylogenetic placement of Pseudochactas within Recent scorpions, for which the results of this study provide preliminary insight. Phylogenetic results of this analysis, based entirely on the derivation of orthobothriotaxic patterns, show that Archaeobuthus is the plesiomorphic sister group of all Recent scorpions, placed between the ancient palaeopisthacanthids and Recent scorpions. Within Recent scorpions, the clades ‘buthids + pseudochactids’ and ‘chaerilids + Type C’ are strongly endorsed by this analysis. Formal orthobothriotaxic types are defined for the palaeopisthacanthids (Type P), representing the earliest known complete fundamental trichobothrial pattern, and the pseudochactids (Type D), the fourth fundamental pattern for Recent scorpions.

Between Two Worlds: The Encapsulated Self

This article explores the nature of the schizoid process, in which withdrawal serves to protect the individual in the face of psychological collapse. Someone who uses schizoid defenses for survival fears living in relationship and splits off from both the external world of experiences and the inner self. Caught between external and internal conflicts, the person may withdraw into autistic encapsulation, a primitive method of protection, and life is endured in a state of isolation, ambivalence, and confusion. This article considers how the schizoid condition may manifest as dissociative and autistic states, and a fourth pattern of insecure attachment is introduced. Case vignettes are used to illustrate the phenomenological experiences of the schizoid's unspoken and sequestered world and to identify how contact and the methods of inquiry, involvement, and attunement are used in an intensive therapeutic relationship.

Genetic diversity and evolution of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae strains from eastern Africa assessed by 16S rDNA sequence analysis.

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (M. capripneumoniae), the causal agent of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), is a member of the so-called Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. These mycoplasmas have two rRNA operons in which intraspecific variations have been demonstrated. The sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of both operons from 13 field strains of M. capripneumoniae from three neighbouring African countries (Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania) were determined. Four new and unique polymorphism patterns reflecting the intraspecific variations were found. Two of these patterns included length differences between the rrnA and rrnB operons. The length difference in one of the patterns was caused by a two-nucleotide insert (TG) in the rrnB operon and the length difference in the other pattern was due to a three-nucleotide deletion, also in the rrnB operon. Another pattern was characterised by a polymorphic position caused by a mutation that is known to cause streptomycin resistance in other bacterial species. The strain with this pattern was also found to be resistant to streptomycin. Streptomycin resistant clones were selected from four M. capripneumoniae strains to further investigate the correlation of this mutation to streptomycin resistance. Mutations in the 16S rRNA genes had occurred in two of these strains. The fourth pattern included a new polymorphism in position 1059. The results show that polymorphisms in M. capripneumoniae strains can be used as epidemiological markers for CCPP in smaller geographical areas and to study the molecular evolution of this species.

On the origin of internal structure of word forms.

This study shows that a corpus of proto-word forms shares four sequential sound patterns with words of modern languages and the first words of infants. Three of the patterns involve intrasyllabic consonant-vowel (CV) co-occurrence: labial (lip) consonants with central vowels, coronal (tongue front) consonants with front vowels, and dorsal (tongue back) consonants with back vowels. The fourth pattern is an intersyllabic preference for initiating words with a labial consonant-vowel-coronal consonant sequence (LC). The CV effects may be primarily biomechanically motivated. The LC effect may be self-organizational, with multivariate causality. The findings support the hypothesis that these four patterns were basic to the origin of words.

New evidence for β′‐2 p.p+2.p triacylglycerol crystal structure

In a recent paper (1) we proposed a crystal structure for the homologously isomorphous β′-2 p.p+2.p triacylglycerol series. Another recent paper (2), by different authors, contains three X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) patterns that confirm the correctness of our proposed structure. Unfortunately, only one of these XRPD patterns was available to us when submitting our paper (1). Figure 1 shows the published experimental XRPD patterns. Figure 2 shows the XRPD patterns calculated from our proposed structure. The alternating intensities of the first three experimental patterns in region A (31l reflections with l = 4, 6, 8, or 10) and peak B (the 600 reflection) are very well reproduced by our structure. In our opinion, the fourth experimental pattern does not correspond to a β′ polymorph. Peak C at d = 4.57 A, i.e., at 2θ = 19.4° (see Table 1 in Ref. 2) indicates that this is a β polymorph, which has been described for this compound by DeJong (3), among others. This explains why the XRPD pattern calculated from our β′ structure does not match the experimental pattern. New Evidence for β′-2 p.p+2.p Triacylglycerol Crystal Structure

Spatial patterns of variability in the global surface air temperature data set

We identify the major spatial patterns of variability in the global surface air temperature data set using empirical orthogonal analysis. We rotate the major components to simplify physical interpretation. Of the five patterns which account for the largest proportion of the total variance in the data set, three are global in extent and two are continental in scale. The pattern accounting for most of the variance in the data set indicates a global change in temperature, affecting most regions in the same sense but most marked in lower latitudes. The second most important pattern is a measure of the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation phenomenon. The third pattern represents a contrast in temperature between the northern and southern oceans and is shown to be related to Sahel rainfall variations, confirming, though with reservations, the results of previous work. The fourth pattern is an index of the temperature effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation. The fifth pattern is a measure of temperature variations over Siberia. It is shown that this component is related to an atmospheric circulation fluctuation affecting, among other things, the strength of the depression track over the Barents and Kara Seas and neighboring areas. We term this process the Euro‐Siberian Oscillation. The effects of changing data coverage are explored, and it is shown that patterns with a strong maritime component are particularly susceptible to this form of inhomogeneity. Finally, potential causal mechanisms, such as volcanic pollution of the atmosphere, are investigated, and the evolution over time of the spatial response to these forcing factors is defined using the empirical orthogonal functions. The analysis demonstrates that empirical orthogonal functions representing the spatial patterns of temperature change provide a concise means of monitoring climate trends and can assist identification of the causes of recent climate change as well as supporting climate model validation and assessment of the representativeness and reliability of climate reconstructions based on proxy indicators such as tree ring data.

Differential subcellular redistribution of protein kinase C isozymes in the rat hippocampus induced by kainic acid.

Protein kinase C (PKC) consists of a family of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent isozymes that has been implicated in the delayed neurotoxic effects of glutamate in vitro. In the present study, we assessed the effect of the glutamate analogue kainic acid (KA) on the subcellular expression of PKC isozymes in the hippocampus (HPC) in the period preceding (0.5, 1.5, 12, and 24 h) and during (120 h) hippocampal necrosis using western blot analysis and PKC isozyme-specific antibodies. Before subcellular fractionation (cytosol + membrane), hippocampi were microdissected into "HPC" (fields CA1-CA3) and "dentate gyrus" (DG; granule cells + hilus) regions. Four general patterns of alterations in PKC isozyme expression/distribution were observed following KA treatment. The first pattern was a relative stability in expression following KA treatment and was most apparent for cytosol PKCalpha (HPC + DG) and membrane (HPC) and cytosol (DG) PKCbetaII. The second pattern, observed with PKCgamma and PKCepsilon, was characterized by an initial increase in expression in both membrane and cytosolic fractions before seizure activity (0.5 h) followed by a gradual decrease until significant reductions are observed by 120 h. The third pattern, exhibited by PKCdelta, involved an apparent translocation, increasing in the membrane and decreasing in the cytosol, followed by down-regulation in both fractions and subsequent recovery. The fourth pattern was observed with PKCzeta only and entailed a significant reduction in expression before and during limbic motor seizures followed by a dramatic fivefold increase in the membrane fraction during the period of hippocampal necrosis (120 h). Although these patterns did not segregate according to conventional PKC isozyme classifications, they do indicate dynamic isozyme-specific regulation by KA. The subcellular redistribution of PKC isozymes may contribute to the histopathological sequelae produced by KA in the hippocampus and may model the pathogenesis associated with diseases involving glutamate-induced neurotoxicity.

Indocyanine green angiographic features in ocular sarcoidosis

Objective To determine indocyanine green (ICG) angiographic features and evaluate the extent of choroidal involvement in proven cases of posterior ocular sarcoidosis. Design Nonrandomized controlled trial. Participants Nineteen patients (14 females, 5 males; average age, 56 ± 4 years) with clinically typical posterior sarcoidosis (biopsy-proven in 6 cases and fulfilling the other diagnostic criteria in 13 cases) participated, with 10 control subjects (average age, 48 ± 7 years). Criteria for the diagnosis of sarcoidosis were a positive biopsy result or the presence of at least three of the following four criteria: elevated serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, elevated lysozyme, cutaneous anergy, and hilar lymph node enlargement. Intervention Indocyanine green angiography was performed according to a standard angiographic protocol used in inflammatory disorders. Main outcome measures Indocyanine green angiographic features and proportion of choroidal inflammatory involvement were measured. Results Indocyanine green angiographic features could be classified into four main patterns. The first pattern is hypofluorescent choroidal lesions in the early and intermediate phases, irregularly distributed, invisible on funduscopy or fluorescein angiography, and localized in the midperiphery (63% of patients), in the macula (11%) or in both regions (26%) with an average dot diameter of 0.31 ± 0.03 disc diameters. These lesions either became isofluorescent in the late phase of the angiogram (Type 1, present in all patients) or remained hypofluorescent (Type 2, present in 84% of patients). The second pattern is focal hyperfluorescent pinpoints visible in the intermediate and late phases (in 89% of patients). The third pattern is fuzzy choroidal vessels with leakage in the intermediate phase of the angiogram, and the fourth pattern is diffuse late zonal choroidal hyperfluorescence with staining in the late phase of the angiogram, both features being present in all patients. Conclusions Indocyanine green angiography allowed the authors to assess and quantify the hitherto unknown extent of choroidal involvement in ocular sarcoidosis. Furthermore, characteristic ICG findings might represent an additional valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring this disease.

Preliminary characterisation of extracellular serine proteases of Dermatophilus congolensis isolates from cattle, sheep and horses

Dermatophilus congolensis is a filamentous branching actinomycete that causes dermatophilosis, an exudative dermatitis in ruminants. The pathogenesis of this disease is poorly understood and virulence factors of D. congolensis have not been characterised. Culture filtrate (CF) of 14 D. congolensis isolates from cattle, 15 from sheep and four from horses were examined for proteolytic activity using azocasein as a non-specific substrate. The isolates were from a variety of geographical locations. All the isolates examined produced extracellular proteolytic activity. CF from 24 and 48 h cultures and from first and third passages contained proteases. Proteolytic activity was greatest in neutral to alkaline pH (pH 7–10). CF of bovine isolates contained more proteolytic activity than that of ovine isolates. Furthermore, in substrate SDS-PAGE gels containing azocasein the number of proteolytic bands and their molecular weights in CF of bovine, ovine and equine isolates were different, giving distinctive band patterns for isolates from each host species. Three out of four bovine isolates from Antigua gave a fourth band pattern. Bands of equivalent molecular weights to the proteases could not be identified in silver stained SDS-PAGE gels of CF. Serine protease inhibitors had a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on proteolytic activity in CF and inhibited activity of all proteolytic bands in substrate gels. With the exception of EDTA which had a variable-enhancing effect on activity, inhibitors of other classes of protease had no effect on activity. We conclude that D. congolensis produces a number of extracellular alkaline serine proteases, our results suggest the presence of host-specific variation between isolates and to a lesser extent between isolates from the same host species.

Heterogeneity of the human exocrine pancreas: Antidigestive enzyme antibody and lectin binding

We have previously reported the existance of fundamental heterogeneity of the exocrine pancreas in animals; binding of specific anti-digestive enzyme antibodies and lectins to intact pancreatic tissue and isolated acinar cells of rabbit and rat revealed highly heterogenous patterns of distribution of acinar cell digestive enzyme contents (J Histochem Cytochem 1995;44:215 and Gastroenterol 1997;112:A435). Aim: To determine if the adult human pancreas is heterogeneous. Methods: Areas of normal pancreas were obtained without alteration of the surgical procedure from the margins of resected specimens in 5 patients ages 56-76, two with serous cystadenoma, and three with pancreatic cancer. Tissue was fixed and sectioned by standard methods. Sections were permeabilized with saponin, and treated with commerciallyavailable anti-digestive enzyme antibodies employed singly or in pairs directed against amylase, lipase, chymotrypsin and trypsinogen, or with a panel of lectins. Vizualization was by both diaminobenzidine and fluoresence with FITC or Texas red. Routine hematoxylin and eosin staining was employed to ascertain tissue integrity, morphology and absence of pathology. Results: The human pancreas was distinctly heterogeneous at the morphological level as demonstrated by antidigestive enzyme antibody binding. Several patterns of heterogeneity were readily discerned: first, a pattern unique to the human wherein whole lobules were clearly labeled by one of a pair of antibodies -highly lipase-, chymotrypsinand amylasedominant lobules were noted to contrast with other areas where enzymes were co-localized. Second, an autumn leaves-type pattern was noted in which individual acini were found to contain either amylase or lipase predominantly. A third pattern wherein individual acinar cells differed in digestive enzyme content from neighboring cells within the same acinus, and a fourth pattern of anti-digestive enzyme antibody staining in halos of lipase-rich acinar cells surrounding the islets of Langerhans were also noted. Lectins LTL and UEA also strongly showed lobular patterns of heterogeneous binding. Lectins HPA, ACL, WFA, SBA and SWGA showed heterogeneous patterns from cell-tocell in the zymogen granule region. Lectin PHA showed distinct halos of acinar cells surrounding the islets. Numerous species differences in the patterns of heterogeneity were found; the human gland appeared even more broadly heterogeneous than rabbit or rat, and showed an extensive lobular pattern not seen as readily in the other species. Conclusion: The exocrine pancreas in the human adult is fundamentally heterogeneous with respect to the distribution of individual digestive enzyme species within acinar cells, acini, and pancreatic lobules. The heterogeneous interand intra-acinar patterns as well as the peri-insular halos have been found in all species examined; the highly lobular pattern for lipase, amylase and chymotrypsin is, to date, unique to the human.

Ecotopes, natural infection and trophic resources of Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae).

Triatoma brasiliensis is considered as one of the most important Chagas disease vectors in the northeastern Brazil. This species presents chromatic variations which led to descriptions of subspecies, synonymized by Lent and Wygodzinsky (1979). In order to broaden bionomic knowledge of these distinct colour patterns of T. brasiliensis, captures were performed at different sites, where the chromatic patterns were described: Caicó, Rio Grande do Norte (T. brasiliensis brasiliensis Neiva, 1911), it will be called the "brasiliensis population"; Espinosa, Minas Gerais (T. brasiliensis melanica Neiva & Lent 1941), the "melanica population" and Petrolina, Pernambuco (T. brasiliensis macromelasoma, Galvão 1956), the "macromelasoma population". A fourth chromatic pattern was collected in Juazeiro, Bahia the darker one in overall cuticle coloration, the "Juazeiro population". At the sites of Caicó, Petrolina and Juazeiro, specimens were captured in peridomiciliar ecotopes and in wilderness. In Espinosa the specimens were collected only in wilderness, even though several exhaustive captures have been performed in peridomicile at different sites of this municipality. A total of 298 specimens were captured. The average registered infection rate was 15% for "brasiliensis population" and of 6.6% for "melanica population". Specimens of "macromelasoma" and of "Juazeiro populations" did not present natural infection. Concerning trophic resources, evaluated by the precipitin test, feeding eclecticism for the different colour patterns studied was observed, with dominance of goat blood in household surroundings as well as in wilderness.

Isoenzymes detect variation in populations of Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae).

Triatoma brasiliensis is one of the most important vectors of Chagas disease in the semiarid zone of the northeast of Brazil. Intraspecific morphological and behavioural variation has been reported for different populations. Results for four distinct populations using eight isoenzymes are reported here. The literature describes three subspecies: T. brasiliensis brasiliensis Neiva, 1911; T. brasiliensis melanica Neiva & Lent, 1941 and T. brasiliensis macromelasoma Galvão, 1956. These subspecies differ mainly in their cuticle colour pattern and were regarded as synonyms by Lent and Wygodzinsky (1979). In order to evaluate whether the chromatic pattern is a morphological variation of different melanic forms within T. brasiliensis or due to interspecific variation, field collections were performed in localities where these three subspecies have been described: Caicó (Rio Grande do Norte), the type-locality for T. b. brasiliensis; Petrolina (Pernambuco) for T. b. macromelasoma and Espinosa (Minas Gerais) for T. b. melanica. A fourth distinct chromatic pattern was found in Juazeiro (Bahia). A total of nine loci were studied. Values of Nei's genetic distance (D) were calculated. T. b. brasiliensis and T. b. macromelasoma are the closest populations with a D = 0.295. T. b. melanica had a D > or = 0.537 when compared to the others, a distance in the range of interspecific variation for other triatomine species.

Zooplankton ecology in the eastern tropical Pacific oxygen minimum zone above a seamount: 2. Vertical distribution of copepods

The abundance and vertical distribution (0-1230 m) of copepods were studied in the eastern tropical Pacific near the seamount Volcano 7 to examine the influence of the extreme oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Maximum zooplankton biomass and copepod abundance were in the thermocline zone. A secondary peak in biomass and copepod abundance was evident between 600 and 1000 m, which included the depth of the lower interface of the OMZ. This prominent secondary peak in zooplankton is a feature unique to OMZ regions. There were four general trends of vertical distribution of copepod abundance. These trends appeared to be related to the oxygen concentration and gradients. The most common vertical distribution was a pattern of maximum abundance in the mixed layer and thermocline zones, with a secondary maximum in the zone of the lower OMZ interface (600-1000 m). Clausocalanus spp., Oncaea, spp., Euchaeta spp., Oithona spp. and Corycaeus spp. showed this trend. Low oxygen concentration did not appear to restrict these groups, since they were present throughout the OMZ. The second vertical distributional pattern was vertical migration between the thermocline and the OMZ. Pleuromamma robusta showed this pattern, with maximum abundance at night in the thermocline zone and during the day in the core of the OMZ. In addition, there was a secondary maximum of abundance at the lower OMZ interface zone. The third type of distribution was shown by copepods that were abundant in the upper OMZ and at the lower OMZ interface zones. Eucalanus inermis, Haloptilusparalongicirrus and Heterostylites longicornis were dominant copepod species that exhibited this pattern. They were either absent from the mixed layer or at similar abundances in the mixed layer and upper OMZ. The fourth pattern was shown by copepod species that live primarily above the OMZ day and night. The majority of the species appeared to be tolerant of the extreme low oxygen concentrations. Rhincalanus spp. was the dominant copepod that was excluded by low oxygen concentrations. In general, species also found in other OMZ regions showed similar distributions in this study, indicating that low oxygen is a major controlling factor. Some vertical niche separation among congeneric species was indicated for Eucalanidae, Metridiidae and Augaptilidae.

Topographic patterns of V2 cortical connections in macaque monkeys

Patterns of connections of dorsal and ventral portions of the second visual area (V2) were used to evaluate and extend current theories of cortical organization and processing streams in macaque monkeys. Injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) and up to four different fluorochromes in V2 labeled neurons and terminations in V2 and in 1) caudal (DLc) and rostral (DLr) subdivisions of dorsolateral cortex between V2 and the middle temporal area (MT); 2) regions we define as dorsomedial (DM) and dorsointermediate (DI) areas; 3) MT, medial superior temporal area (MST), and fundal superior temporal area (FST); 4) the dorsal part of inferior temporal (TEO) cortex; and 5) two locations in posterior parietal cortex. The largest extrastriate connection zone was DLc, which occupied the caudal one-third to one-half of the fourth visual area (V4) region of other proposals. Based on the connection pattern, foveal vision in DLc is represented adjacent to foveal vision in V2, with the lower quadrant represented dorsally and the upper quadrant ventrally, as in V2, but within a much less extensive region of cortex. The sparser connections of DLr formed a more compressed but parallel visuotopic pattern. A third visuotopic pattern of connections was located in a moderately myelinated region of cortex just rostral to dorsomedial V2. Whereas the region would include parts of dorsal visual area 3 (V3), V3a, and possibly other areas of other proposals, we interpret the connection pattern as reflecting a dorsomedial visual area, DM, with foveal vision represented caudolaterally and other parts of the lower and upper quadrants represented more medially and rostrally. A fourth pattern of label in dorsointermediate cortex suggested the location and organization of another visual area (DI). Most of a fifth connection pattern with MT was congruent with the known visuotopic organization of MT area, but visuotopically mismatched foci of connections were observed as well. Sparser foci of label in MST suggested a rostrodorsal representation of foveal vision, with paracentral vision represented more caudally. Separate dorsal and ventral foci of label in FST were consistent with previous evidence for dorsal (FSTd) and ventral (FSTv) visual areas. Finally, connections with TEO and posterior parietal cortex were sparse. Our results suggest that much of visual cortex organization is similar in New and Old World monkeys. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Topographic patterns of V2 cortical connections in macaque monkeys.

Patterns of connections of dorsal and ventral portions of the second visual area (V2) were used to evaluate and extend current theories of cortical organization and processing streams in macaque monkeys. Injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) and up to four different fluorochromes in V2 labeled neurons and terminations in V2 and in 1) caudal (DLc) and rostral (DLr) subdivisions of dorsolateral cortex between V2 and the middle temporal area (MT); 2) regions we define as dorsomedial (DM) and dorsointermediate (DI) areas; 3) MT, medial superior temporal area (MST), and fundal superior temporal area (FST); 4) the dorsal part of inferior temporal (TEO) cortex; and 5) two locations in posterior parietal cortex. The largest extrastriate connection zone was DLc, which occupied the caudal one-third to one-half of the fourth visual area (V4) region of other proposals. Based on the connection pattern, foveal vision in DLc is represented adjacent to foveal vision in V2, with the lower quadrant represented dorsally and the upper quadrant ventrally, as in V2, but within a much less extensive region of cortex. The sparser connections of DLr formed a more compressed but parallel visuotopic pattern. A third visuotopic pattern of connections was located in a moderately myelinated region of cortex just rostral to dorsomedial V2. Whereas the region would include parts of dorsal visual area 3 (V3), V3a, and possibly other areas of other proposals, we interpret the connection pattern as reflecting a dorsomedial visual area, DM, with foveal vision represented caudolaterally and other parts of the lower and upper quadrants represented more medially and rostrally. A fourth pattern of label in dorsointermediate cortex suggested the location and organization of another visual area (DI). Most of a fifth connection pattern with MT was congruent with the known visuotopic organization of MT area, but visuotopically mismatched foci of connections were observed as well. Sparser foci of label in MST suggested a rostrodorsal representation of foveal vision, with paracentral vision represented more caudally. Separate dorsal and ventral foci of label in FST were consistent with previous evidence for dorsal (FSTd) and ventral (FSTv) visual areas. Finally, connections with TEO and posterior parietal cortex were sparse. Our results suggest that much of visual cortex organization is similar in New and Old World monkeys.

Organization of ventrolateral periolivary cells of the cat superior olive as revealed by PEP-19 immunocytochemistry and Nissl stain

Ventrolateral periolivary cell groups, through their descending projections to the cochlear nucleus (CN) and local projections to principal nuclei of the superior olive, may participate in brainstem mechanisms mediating such tasks as signal detection in noisy environments and sound localization. Understanding the function of these cell groups can be improved by increased knowledge of the organization of their synaptic inputs in relation to their cellular characteristics. Immunocytochemistry for PEP-19 (a putative calcium binding protein) reveals four patterns of immunolabeling within the ventrolateral periolivary region. Three of the patterns, which have distinct fiber and punctate labeling characteristics, help to define three subdivisions of the lateral nucleus of the trapezoid body (LNTB). The fourth pattern defines two other nuclei, the anterolateral periolivary nucleus (rostral) and the posterior periolivary nucleus (caudal), which display many immunoreactive cell bodies but little fiber and punctate labeling. One of the subdivisions of the LNTB contains large PEP-19 immunolabeled puncta arranged in pericellular nests. Analysis of Nissl-stained sections reveals a neuronal population that resembles globular cells of the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) and which colocalizes with pericellular nests of large immunolabeled puncta. Cell counts reveal that roughly 10,000 neurons constitute the cat ventrolateral periolivary region, 9,000 of which are found in the LNTB. Three-dimensional reconstructions of auditory brainstem nuclei clarify the complex spatial relationships among these structures.

The influence of pattern‐based frequency expectations on resolving power for components of multitone sequences

The effect of deviations from frequency expectations on resolving power for components of tonal sequences was studied with a method similar to that used earlier to determine the effect of temporal deviations [G. R. Kidd, 2966(A) (1994)]. In a same–different task, listeners were asked to compare the last two of four twelve‐tone patterns presented on each trial. The first two patterns were identical and served to establish expectations from which the third and fourth patterns could deviate. In the third pattern, the frequency of a single ‘‘target’’ tone was lowered by either 3 or 7 semitones, or left unchanged. The frequency change to be detected was added to the target component in the fourth pattern on half the trials. Thresholds for this frequency increment were estimated for each deviation condition (as defined by the target‐tone frequency used in the third pattern). Just as with deviations from temporal expectations, deviations from frequency expectations produced threshold increments that increased with the size of the deviation. These findings suggest that the superior discriminability typically observed with familiar patterns is due to the appropriate targeting of attention in frequency and in time during pattern presentation. [Work supported by NIDCD.]