A Hilbert space approach to maximum entropy reconstruction

We examine here the problem of reconstructing an X-ray attenuation function from measurements of its integrals. The approach that is taken is to maximize the difference of the entropy and the residual error in meeting the measurements. The solution of this optimization problem is constrained by requiring that the solution lie in a certain weakly compact subset of L², to be determined by physical information. We show that the constrained optimization problem is well-posed: there exists a unique solution (even when the measured data are inconsistent) and the solution depends continuously on the measurements. In the course of proving this, we show that the entropy functional is continuous on L². We further demonstrate that the solution of the optimization problem for a special case, must be piecewise constant.     

Oxygen ylides - I. : Reactions of carbenes with oxetane

The ylides generated from carbenes (:CH₂, :CHCO₂Et, :CHPh) and oxetane in the presence of methanol undergo Stevens rearrangement and protonation competitively, yielding tetrahydrofurans and 1,3-dialkoxycyclopropanes as major products.     

“HFM”, the universal sputter method in SNMS analytics

For the analysis of surfaces with poor conductivity the use of the “direct current sputter process”, usual in SNMS, produces unreproducible depth profiles with often widened transition widths. An efficient method for eliminating static charging in the case of non-coducting samples is the use of a high-frequency discharge. By comparison of the direct current mode with high frequency mode it is shown, that the use of SNMS with HF sputtering is the universal analysis method for most matrices, technical surfaces as well as oxidic materials. For non-conducting or poorly conducting samples, however, matrix-adjusted factors are to be used.     

Determination of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr) in sedimentary reference materials with IDMS: total concentration and aqua regia soluble portion

Summary The total concentration and the aqua regia soluble portion of traces of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Cr are determined with isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) in three different types of sediments using a thermal quadrupole instrument (THQ). The results are compared with those obtained by other methods during a certification project to establish these sediments (BCR 277, BCR 280, BCR 320) as standard reference materials. The IDMS (THQ) results are in good agreement with the preliminary certification values and the results of two other laboratories, which applied IDMS using magnetic sector field mass spectrometers. Significant differences between the different analytical methods were found for the total Pb concentration, which could be explained by adsorption and coprecipitation effects during the chemical pretreatment of samples. Using aqua regia instead of HF/HNO₃ for the decomposition of sediments, only 65%–95% of the total Pb and 60%–90% of the total Cr could be dissolved. On the other hand, only a small or negligible portion of Zn, Cd, and Cu could not be dissolved by aqua regia. The IDMS values for the aqua regia soluble Cr portion are significantly higher compared to the results of other methods. This can be explained by adsorption effects.

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Bestimmung von Schwermetallen (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr) in sedimentären Standard-Referenzmaterialien mit massenspektrometrischer Isotopenverdünnungsanalyse: Totalgehalt sowie in Königswasser löslicher Anteil

     

Affinity precipitation of enzymes

Lactate dehydrogenase has been purified by precipitation with a bis-ligand. The precipitating agent in this case was Bis-NAD. This approach of affinity precipitation is also applicable to other enzymes.