An imaging CdZnTe detector with coplanar orthogonal anode strips

A novel electrode configuration for CZT imaging devices is presented. It is made of focusing, non-collecting anode strips, in one dimension, and collecting anode pixels, interconnected in rows, in the orthogonal dimension. The simulation of such an imaging detector is presented. First, field lines in the detector are computed that show that electrons generated in γ-ray events are collected on the pixels. Charge signals, induced on the pixel and on the strip by drifting electrons, are calculated for several points of interaction inside the detector unit cell. These show that this new detector should retain the spectroscopic and detection efficiency advantages of single carrier (electrons) charge sensing devices such as pixel detectors or spectrometers with controlling electrodes. Furthermore, it retains the main advantage of conventional strip detectors, i.e. an N x N array of imaging pixels realized with only 2N electronic channels. An additional potential advantage is the measurement of the third coordinate, i.e. the depth of interaction in the detector.

COMPTEL measurements of the omnidirectional high-energy neutron flux in near-earth orbit

On four occasions, twice in 1991 (near solar maximum) and twice in 1994 (near solar minimum), one COMPTEL D1 detector module was used as an omnidirectional detector to measure the high-energy (> 12.8 MeV) neutron flux near an altitude of 450 km. The D1 modules are cylindrical, with radius 13.8 cm and depth 8 cm, and are filled with liquid scintillator (NE213A). The combined flux measurements can be fit reasonably well by a product of the Mt. Washington neutron monitor rate, a linear function in the spacecraft geocenter zenith angle, and an exponential function of the vertical geomagnetic cutoff rigidity in which the coefficient of the rigidity is a linear function of the neutron monitor rate. When pointed at the nadir, the flux is consistent with that expected from the atmospheric neutron albedo alone. When pointed at the zenith the flux is reduced by a factor of about 0.54. Thus the production of secondary neutrons in the massive (16000 kg) Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory spacecraft is negligible. Rather, the mass of the spacecraft provides shielding from the earth albedo.

Metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes mellitus, as investigated by gas chromatography and pattern-recognition analysis of profiles of volatile metabolites

Patterns of volatile metabolites in urine, as obtained by glass-capillary gas chromatography, were investigated by use of a nonparametric pattern-recognition method, in an effort to detect abnormalities associated with diabetes. We used threshold logic unit analysis on a data set consisting of normal subjects and those with diabetes mellitus, and could predict patterns for volatile metabolites as belonging to the proper class in 94.83% of the cases examined. In addition, a feature-extraction algorithm isolated those volatile constituents that are most useful in making the normal/diabetic classification. We used gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify important profile constituents. Finally, these same pattern-recognition methods indicated strong sex-related patterns in these volatiles.

Metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes mellitus, as investigated by gas chromatography and pattern-recognition analysis of profiles of volatile metabolites

Patterns of volatile metabolites in urine, as obtained by glass-capillary gas chromatography, were investigated by use of a nonparametric pattern-recognition method, in an effort to detect abnormalities associated with diabetes. We used threshold logic unit analysis on a data set consisting of normal subjects and those with diabetes mellitus, and could predict patterns for volatile metabolites as belonging to the proper class in 94.83% of the cases examined. In addition, a feature-extraction algorithm isolated those volatile constituents that are most useful in making the normal/diabetic classification. We used gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify important profile constituents. Finally, these same pattern-recognition methods indicated strong sex-related patterns in these volatiles.

Formation of nuclei during delay time prior to aggregation of deoxyhemoglobin S in concentrated phosphate buffer

The delay time prior to aggregation of deoxyhemoglobin S was found to be shortened significantly if monomeric deoxyhemoglobin S was added near the end of the expected delay time. This suggests the formation of a preaggregation complex of deoxyhemoglobin S, probably so-called "nuclei", near the end of the delay time. In fact, the molecular weight of deoxyhemoglobin S as measured by a low angle laser light scattering photometer increased exponentially during the delay time prior to the visible aggregation of deoxyhemoglobin S. These results support the nucleation-controlled aggregation mechanism for the aggregation of deoxyhemoglobin S in concentrated phosphate buffer.

Application of pattern recognition and feature extraction techniques to volatile constituent metabolic profiles obtained by capillary gas chromatography

The applicability of threshold logic units, a form of nonparametric pattern recognition, to the processing of metabolic profile data obtained by high-efficiency glass capillary column gas chromatography has been investigated. The test data included profiles of the volatile constituents of urine from normal individuals and from individuals with diabetes mellitus. A feature extraction algorithm allowed for dimensionality reduction and indicated the constituents most important in the normal versus pathological distinction. With an optimum number of dimensions, a normal versus pathological prediction rate of 93.75% was achieved. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was utilized to identify important profile constituents.

Automated high-resolution gas chromatographic system for recording and evaluation of metabolic profiles

A fully automated high-resolution gas chromatographic system is described that incorporates repetitive sampling of volatile biological samples onto a glass capillary column, and a simultaneous flame ionization and nitrogen-sensitive detection prior to data acquisition and computer handling. Reliable headspace sampling procedure and reproducible column characteristics that are essential to automation have been studied. The application of this system to the reproducible chromatographic recording of human urinary volatile constituents is shown.