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The performances of different 5Cu/Co x Mg 6-x Al 2 (x = 0; 2; 4; 6) catalysts prepared by the wet impregnation method were investigated in the ethanol steam-reforming reaction (ESR) at 450 °C during 4 h under a steam/ethanol ratio of 3 (S/E = 3). The best catalyst among the prepared solids was 5Cu/Co 6 Al 2 as it showed a complete ethanol conversion and the highest hydrogen and carbon dioxide productivities. However, following 50 h of aging, the catalyst deactivated due to the formation of a high amount of carbonaceous products detected by differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetry. On the other hand, the 5Cu/Co 2 Mg 4 Al 2 catalyst showed a much lower quantity of coke deposition with no deactivation due to the basic character conferred by the magnesium oxide phase.

Iliac crest bone wedges are commonly used in spinal fusion procedures and must be capable of withstanding considerable mechanical stress during the healing process. The variability of "quality" of bone materials used in the production of bone wedges suggests that some bone materials may not be suitable for use in vertebral fusion procedures and some quantifiable means of predicting the suitability of bone wedges would be desirable. A total of 250 iliac crest wedges were used in this study. Physical parameters of iliac crest wedges, such as total cross-sectional area, cancellous cross-sectional area, cortical cross-sectional area, percentage of cortical cross-sectional area, "width," and apparent density were determined. The statistical correlations among physical parameters were investigated. These correlations revealed that the relative percentage of cortical and cancellous bone remained fairly constant at 41% and 59%, respectively, regardless of total cross-sectional area of a wedge, that apparent density did not appreciably change with donor age, and that ash (inorganic) and organic content (weight) correlated well with the apparent density.