Non‐Spherical 2‐Dimensional Particle Size Analysis from Chord Measurements using Bayes' Theorem

A method of deconvoluting 2‐dimensional particle size distributions from chord size data is presented and evaluated. This is the Probability Apportioning Method (PAM3). It assumes that the particles (or droplets) can be represented by super quadrics and are cut randomly by a sensor to give a chord measurement. Starting from an assumed uniform particle distribution, Bayes' theorem is used to calculate hit probabilities for each particle type and the population is then recalculated. The process is then repeated until there is no significant further change in the calculated distribution. Using numerical simulations PAM3 is shown to be quite accurate and robust for a number of different types of particle shapes provided there is a sufficient number of accurate measurements.     

Stability and activity of carbon nanofiber-supported catalysts in the aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol

Nickel, cobalt, copper and platinum nanoparticles supported on carbon nano-fibers were evaluated with respect to their stability, catalytic activity and selectivity in the aqueous phase reforming of ethylene glycol (230 C, autogenous pressure, batch reactor). The initial surface-specific activities for ethylene glycol reforming were in a similar range but decreased in the order of Pt (15.5 h1 ) >Co(13.0 h1 ) >Ni(5.2 h1 ) while the Cu catalyst only showed low dehydrogenation activity. The hydrogen molar selectivity decreased in the order of Pt (53%)>Co(21%)>Ni (15%) as a result of the production of methane over the latter two catalysts. Over the Co catalyst acids were formed in the liquid phase while alcohols were formed over Ni and Pt. Due to the low pH of the reaction mixture, especially in the case of Co (as a result of the formed acids), significant cobalt leaching occurs which resulted in a rapid deactivation of this catalyst. Investigations of the spent catalysts with various techniques showed that metal particle growth is responsible for the deactivation of the Pt and Ni catalysts. In addition, coking might also contribute to the deactivation of the Ni catalyst.     

On a proposed divide-and-conquer minimal spanning tree algorithm

In a recent paper published in this journal, R. Chang and R. Lee purport to devise anO(N logN) time minimal spanning tree algorithm forN points in the plane that is based on a divide-and-conquer strategy using Voronoi diagrams. In this brief note, we present families of problem instances to show that the Chang-Lee worst-case timing analysis is incorrect, resulting in a time bound ofO(N ² logN). Since it is known that alternate, trulyO(N logN) time algorithms are available anyway, the general utility of the Chang-Lee algorithm is questionable.This author's research is supported in part by the Washington State Technology Center and by the National Science Foundation under grants ECS-8403859 and MIP-8603879.     

Postmortem activation analysis: Preliminary observations in the preterm infant

Few data exist on the elemental composition of the human body during infancy. The scarcity of the data is due, in part, to the destructive nature of total body analyses normally required for the classical chemical approach. To help determine such data for infants, we have developed a neutron activation facility for nondestructive postmortem analyses. The system consists of a multisource²⁴¹AmBe irradiator and a multidetector NaI(T1) whole body counter. The total body contents of K, Ca, P, Na and Cl are determined. Postmortem examinations have been performed in twelve infant cadavers. These results are compared with those of the reference fetus.     

Subtraction technique for contrast-enhanced MR images of musculoskeletal tumors

Vascularized malignant tissue, fat and hemorrhage may have similar intensities on Gd-DTPA-enhanced, T1-weighted MRI performed to evaluate musculoskeletal tumors. We describe a simple, rapid post-processing subtraction technique which resulted in improved definition of these tissues in 33 of 42 examinations. While the subtraction process is susceptible to complex patient motion, the improved contrast can be obtained without modifying standard pulse sequences.     

Temporary Protection and Activation in the Regioselective Synthesis of Saccharide Sulfates

Regioselective sulfation with Et₃N · SO₃ of partially protected or unprotected glycosides via stannanediyl acetals or stannyl ethers, combined with persistent or temporary protecting groups is described. Stannylation of phenylboronates, followed by sulfation and aqueous workup, is an efficient way for the synthesis of monosulfated monosaccharides. The stannanediyl acetal 2 led in high yields to 3a , while sulfation of the diol 1 proceeded more slowly and led in lower yield to a mixture 1/3a/4a/5a (Scheme 1). The trehalose disulfate 8a was obtained in high yields from 7 ; reducing the amount of sulfating agent led to a mixture 6/8a/9a . Stannylation and sulfation of the galactoside 11 afforded 13a , while direct sulfation of 11 gave a mixture of the 2-and 3-sulfates 13a/14a besides some disulfate 15a . Sulfation of the lactose derivative 16 and the stannanediyl acetal 17 gave the 3-sulfate 18a , with some disulfate 19a being formed from 16 . The mannopyranoside 21 was selectively sulfated at OH–C(2), leading to 22a , while the corresponding diol 20 yielded mostly the isomer 23a and some disulfate 24a . Sulfation of the stannyl ethers derived from the gluco-and galactopyranosides 25 and 28 and (Bu₃Sn)₂O afforded high yields of the 2,6-disulfate 26a and the 3,6-disulfate 29a , respectively. Stannylation of 25 and 28 with Bu₂SnO and sulfation proceeded less satisfactorily. Stannylation of the phenylboronate 32 (Bu₂SnO) and sulfation gave good yields of the 2-sulfate 27a ; stannylation and benzoylation yielded the 2-benzoate 34 (Scheme 2). Similarly, the galactose-derived 37 provided high yields of the 3-sulfate 30a and of the 3-benzoate 39 . Direct sulfation of the phenylboronates 32 and 37 proceeded in lower yields and gave mixtures.     

Effect of a gadodiamide contrast agent on the reliability of brain tissue T1 measurements

To determine whether brain spin-lattice relaxation time (T1) can routinely be measured after contrast-agent injection, we measured T1 by a precise and accurate inversion-recovery (PAIR) method in five brain tumor patients, before and again after contrast-agent injection. The T1 in at least 20 regions of interest (ROIs) was measured in each patient, avoiding areas of contrast enhancement visible by conventional MR imaging. Contrast-agent injection reduced T1 in 51 regions of interest in white matter by less than 1% (not significant), and in 50 regions of interest in gray matter by less than 2% (p = 0.001). Pixel-by-pixel plots demonstrate that T1 is reduced substantially in extra-parenchymal tissues, but not in brain tissues. Therefore, T1 mapping with the precise and accurate inversion-recovery method can routinely be done after contrast injection. Our results suggest that the precise and accurate inversion-recovery method is not sensitive to the T1 of blood in the presence of an intact blood-brain barrier, although a substantial T1 reduction does occur in the absence of a blood-brain barrier.     

The correlation between phase shifts in gradient-echo MR images and regional brain iron concentration.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the magnetic susceptibility of brain tissue and iron concentration. Phase shifts in gradient-echo images (TE = 60 ms) were measured in 21 human subjects, (age 0.7-45 years) and compared with published values of regional brain iron concentration. Phase was correlated with brain iron concentration in putamen (R2 = 0.76), caudate (0.72), motor cortex (0.68), globus pallidus (0.59) (all p < 0.001), and frontal cortex (R2 = 0.19, p = 0.05), but not in white matter (R2 = 0.05,p = 0.34). The slope of the regression (degrees/mg iron/g tissue wet weight) varied over a narrow range from -1.2 in the globus pallidus and frontal cortex to -2.1 in the caudate. These results suggest that magnetic resonance phase reflects iron-induced differences in brain tissue susceptibility in gray matter. The lack of correlation in white matter may reflect important differences between gray and white matter in the cellular distribution and the metabolic functions of iron. Magnetic resonance phase images provide insight into the magnetic state of brain tissue and may prove to be useful in elucidating the relationship between brain iron and tissue relaxation properties.