Automated data processing of [1H-decoupled] 13C MR spectra acquired from human brain in vivo

In clinical 13C infusion studies, broadband excitation of 200 ppm of the human brain yields 13C MR spectra with a time resolution of 2-5 min and generates up to 2000 metabolite peaks over 2h. We describe a fast, automated, observer-independent technique for processing [1H-decoupled] 13C spectra. Quantified 13C spectroscopic signals, before and after the administration of [1-13C]glucose and/or [1-13C]acetate in human subjects are determined. Stepwise improvements of data processing are illustrated by examples of normal and pathological results. Variation in analysis of individual 13C resonances ranged between 2 and 14%. Using this method it is possible to reliably identify subtle metabolic effects of brain disease including Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and characterization of new 12H hexagonal perovskite-related oxides Ba6M2Na2X2O17 (M=Ru, Nb, Ta, Sb; X=V, Cr, Mn, P, As)

The new Ba₆Ru₂Na₂X₂O₁₇ (X=V, Mn) compounds have been prepared by electrosynthesis in molten NaOH and their crystal structures have been refined from single crystals X-ray diffraction, space group P6₃/mmc, Z=2, for X=V: , , R₁=4.76%, for X=Mn : , , R₁=3.48%. The crystal structure is a 12H-type perovskite with a (c′cchcc)₂ stacking sequence of [BaO₃]_c, [BaO₃]_h and [BaO₂]_c′ layers. The tridimensional edifice is formed by blocks of Ru₂O₉ dimers that share corners with NaO₆ octahedra. These blocks sandwich double sheets of X⁵⁺O₄ tetrahedra. Several isotypic Ba₆M⁵⁺₂Na₂X⁵⁺₂O₁₇ materials (X=V, Cr, Mn, P, As) and (M=Ru, Nb, Ta, Sb) have been prepared by solid state reaction and characterized by Rietveld analysis. The magnetic and electric properties have been investigated and show besides the Ru⁵⁺₂O₉ typical intradimer antiferromagnetic couplings, discrepancies of both χ and ρ versus T at 50 and 100 K for Ba₆Ru₂Na₂X₂O₁₇ (X=V, As). In this work, a review of the identified Ru-hexagonal perovskite materials is also reported in order to overview the wide variety of possibilities in the field of new compounds synthesis.     

Independence of ? in Lafforgue's theorem

Let X be a smooth curve over a finite field of characteristic p, let ?≠p be a prime number, and let be an irreducible lisse -sheaf on X whose determinant is of finite order. By a theorem of L. Lafforgue, for each prime number ?′≠p, there exists an irreducible lisse -sheaf on X which is compatible with , in the sense that at every closed point x of X, the characteristic polynomials of Frobenius at x for and are equal. We prove an “independence of ?” assertion on the fields of definition of these irreducible ?′-adic sheaves : namely, that there exists a number field F such that for any prime number ?′≠p, the -sheaf above is defined over the completion of F at one of its ?′-adic places.     

Completion of Linearly Ordered Metabelian Groups

We prove a theorem saying that in finitely generated linearly ordered metabelian groups there exists a finite system of normal convex subgroups satisfying orderability conditions for groups, and an embedding theorem for linearly ordered metabelian groups whose initial linear orders extend to -divisible linearly ordered metabelian ones. As a consequence, it is stated that orderable metabelian groups are embedded, with extension of all their linear orders, in -divisible orderable metabelian groups.     

Some remarks on half-factorial orders

In questo articolo, si dimostra il legame fra la semi-fattorialità e la fattorialità debole nel contesto degli ordini algebrici. In particolare, si ottiene che un ordine semi-fattoriale ha il stesso numero di classi che su chiusura integrale.     

Assessment of element-specific homogeneity in reference materials using microanalytical techniques

The IAEA established in 1994 a co-ordinated research programme (CRP) on "Reference Materials for Microanalytical Nuclear Techniques" as part of its efforts to promote and strengthen the use of nuclear analytical technologies in member states with the specific aim of improving the quality of analysis of nuclear, environmental, and biological materials. The objectives of this initiative were: to identify suitable biological reference materials which could serve the needs for quality control in microanalytical techniques; to evaluate existing CRMs for use in microanalytical investigations; to evaluate appropriate sample pretreatment procedures for materials being used for analysis with microanalytical techniques; to identify analytical techniques which can be used for characterisation of homogeneity determination, and to apply such techniques to the characterization of candidate reference materials for use with microanalytical techniques. The CRP lasted for 4 years and seven laboratories and the Agency's Laboratories in Seibersdorf participated. A number of materials including the candidate reference materials IAEA 338 (lichen) and IAEA 413 (single cell algae, elevated level) were evaluated for the distribution of elements such as Cl, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Cd, Hg, and Pb. The results obtained during this CRP suggest that: each element exhibits its characteristic distribution in a matrix described by the "Ingamels' sampling constant" or the "relative homogeneity factor" of Kurfuerst; both concepts are valid over a large range of sample mass used for analysis (from 0.1 g to around 100 mg); and materials being characterised quantitatively for element homogeneity could be used for the experimental determination of total uncertainty of other analytical techniques. As far as we are aware this is the first time the concept of quantitative characterisation of homogeneity has been applied to potential reference materials and the first demonstration of the feasibility and usefulness of the concept with particular emphasis on enhancing quality control opportunities for microanalytical techniques.     

Production of Lypoglycoprotein Micelles with Arglabine Antitumor Preparation

The possible production of a new medicinal form of the antitumor preparation arglabine was studied by including it in lipoglycoprotein micelles isolated from wheat grains     

Gaussian approximation in the theory of MR signal formation in the presence of structure-specific magnetic field inhomogeneities

A detailed theoretical analysis of the free induction decay (FID) and spin echo (SE) MR signal formation in the presence of mesoscopic structure-specific magnetic field inhomogeneities is developed in the framework of the Gaussian phase distribution approximation. The theory takes into account diffusion of nuclear spins in inhomogeneous magnetic fields created by arbitrarily shaped magnetized objects with permeable boundaries. In the short-time limit the FID signal decays quadratically with time and depends on the objects' geometry only through the volume fraction, whereas the SE signal decays as 5/2 power of time with the coefficient depending on both the volume fraction of the magnetized objects and their surface-to-volume ratio. In the motional narrowing regime, the FID and SE signals for objects of finite size decay mono-exponentially; a simple general expression is obtained for the relaxation rate constant deltaR2. In the case of infinitely long cylinders in the motional narrowing regime the theory predicts non-exponential signal decay lnS approximately -tlnt in accordance with previous results. For specific geometries of the objects (spheres and infinitely long cylinders) exact analytical expressions for the FID and SE signals are given. The theory can be applied, for instance, to biological systems where mesoscopic magnetic field inhomogeneities are induced by deoxygenated red blood cells, capillary network, contrast agents, etc.     

Narrow α + <Superscript>28</Superscript>Si elastic-scattering states at high excitation in <Superscript>32</Superscript>S

The excitation function and angular distributions of elastic α-particle scattering on ²⁸Si have been measured in the laboratory energy range 6-28 MeV using a backscattering technique on a thick target, yielding a continuous energy distribution. More than 200 narrow states are observed, with widths in the range ∼ 30-100 keV at excitation energies E ^* = 13-32 MeV. Angular distributions at backward angles were measured, and angular momentum values of more than 83 states have been deduced. The analysis gives spin-parities J ^π, α-partial widths Γ_α and reduced widths of the narrow high-lying resonant states in ³²S. The experimentally observed states display both the negative- and the positive-parity rotational-like sequences with seemingly no parity splitting, a finding which is at variance with most potential-model predictions. The deduced effective moment of inertia indicates a more extended structure than the ground-state configuration. The observed strength of each ℓ-value is analyzed in terms of an underlying split doorway state of Lorentzian form, which yields an interpretation as fragmented rotational α + ²⁸Si states. Received: 26 June 2000 / Accepted: 16 September 2002 / Published online: 4 February 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: kkallman@abo.fi RID="b" ID="b"Present address: Swedish Polytechnic, FIN-65200 Vasa, Finland. Communicated by D. Guerreau