Lesions involving the fourth ventricle evaluated by CT and MR: A comparative study

A retrospective review of 21 patients with lesions involving the fourth ventricle was performed to determine the relative capability of computed tomography (CT) and MR for detection, characterization, localization, and diagnosis. Lesions involving the fourth ventricle included ependymoma (three), subependymoma (one), glioma (five), cysticercosis cyst (three), medulloblastoma (three), bleeding into the fourth ventricle (two), epidermoid cyst (two), “trapped” fourth ventricle (one), and lymphomatoid granuloma (one). Posterior fossa lesions that displaced but did not invade the fourth ventricle were excluded. Lesion detectability on CT was judged excellent in ten, good in 8, and fair or poor in 3. Detectability of lesions by MR was judged excellent in 16 and good in 5. There was complete agreement on lesion extension between CT and MR in 6 lesions, mild disagreement in 4, and moderate to significant disagreement in 11. Preoperatively, MR alone correctly diagnosed seven lesions, and CT alone correctly diagnosed three lesions. A review of the combined scans (after the correct diagnosis was given) showed both CT and MR were equal in the diagnosis of 14 lesions, MR better than CT in six, and CT better in one. There was complete agreement on both CT and MR with the surgical/pathologic findings in three lesions. Both studies proved disappointing in their ability to make the correct histologic diagnosis, probably because CT and MR characteristics may not always offer a definitive diagnosis and because of the wide spectrum of pathologic processes that may involve the fourth ventricle.     

The MT-MSXα(R) method: Applications to Li2, F2, and N2 molecules

The multiple scattering Xα(R) method with the scaling parameter α expressed as a function of the internuclear distance is applied to the Li₂, N₂, and F₂ molecules. Compared with the results obtained by the Xα method, the calculated Xα(R) equilibrium distances are smaller, the total energies are lower, and the dissociation energies are larger.     

Electrochemical Study on Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide with Fe(II)

Decomposition of H₂O₂ with Fe²⁺ was studied with SnO₂ electrodes. By chronoamperometric and voltammetric techniques, the diffusion coefficients of Fe^3* and H ₂O₂ were estimated to be 5 × 10-₆ and 2 × 10^?5 cm²/s, respectively; the rate of decomposition of H₂O₂ with Fe²⁺ was proportional to [H₂O₂]^1/2·[Fe²⁺]² at a smaller concentration of Fe²⁺, but to [H₂O₂]^1/2·[Fe²⁺] when [Fe²⁺] was increased, indicating the formation of ferryl ion and the electron exchange between it and Fe²⁺ playing important roles. This catalytic decomposition. was dependent on pH; the maximum rate was observed to occur about pH = 1.5.     

Graphical method for the determination of the complex NMR shift and equilibrium constant for a hetero-association accompanying self-associations

We describe a novel graphical method which, in conjunction with the previously proposed graphical determination of monomer shift, dimer shift, and dimerization constant for self-association, allows us to determine the complex shift and equilibrium constant for a hetero-association, A + B ⇌ AB, accompanying self-associations, A + A ⇌ A₂, and B + B ⇌ B₂. The merit of the new method includes the removal of the restrictions imposed on the conventional Benesi-Hildebrand (B-H) plot: (1) that the concentration of one component must be much less than that of the other; (2) that there be no accompanying self-association. The simultaneous equilibrium of the self-association of 2-pyrrolidone (A) and that of 4-methyl-α-pyrrolidone (B) and the hetero-association between A and B in acetonitrile-d₃ at 25‡C is studied. The inappropriateness of the B-H plot in dealing with this case is also pointed out.     

Superconductivity and the Anomalous Meissner Effect in La3CaBa3Cu7O15,5 + x Oxide

A superconducting oxide with a stoichiometry La₃CaBa₃Cu₇O_15.5+x, in which x = 0.75, was prepared. It had a tetragonal triple-perovskite structure with lattice parameters a = 3.879 Å and c = 11.637 Å. According to resistivity measurements, a sharp superconducting transition, ΔT_c(10-90%) = 1.5 K, and T_c(zero) = 80 K were observed. When it was measured at a small magnetic field (10-20 gauss) with field cooling, the sintered pellet showed a positive magnetic susceptibility, but the powdered sample exhibited (he diamagnetism of a typical superconductor. However, no peculiar shielding effect was found in both the sintered and powdered samples.