On the rate of convergence for central limit theorems of sojourn times of Gaussian fields

The aim of this paper is to control the rate of convergence for central limit theorems of sojourn times of Gaussian fields in both cases: the fixed and the moving level. Our main tools are the Malliavin calculus and the Stein method, developed by Nualart, Peccati and Nourdin. We also extend some results of Berman to the multidimensional case.     

Regioselective Hydrolysis of Cocaine and A Convenient Acylation Procedure by Benzoylecgonine

Regioselective hydrolysis of cocaine led, according to the reaction conditions, either to benzoylecgonine or to ecgonine methyl ester. Acylation with benzoylecgonine was readily achieved when benzotriazolyloxytrisdimethylamino-phosphonium (BOP) was used as a coupling agent.     

Internal Transfer Reactions in the Copolymerization of Vinyl Acetate with Chlorinated Monomers

In the copolymerization of vinyl acetate (A) with either vinyl chloride (C) or vinylidene chloride (V), an internal transfer (backbiting) reaction—of the C- or V-ended radi-cals on an antepenultimate A unit—is proposed to be responsible for the deviation of the copolymerization kinetics from the Lewis and Mayo theory. The deviations disappear if A is replaced by isopropenylacetate [I_p], Then one gets, for the I_p -C copolymerization. r_{I p} =0.35 and :r_c=2.4, and for I -V copolymerization, r_{I p}=0.13 and r_v=5.9. The internal transfer reaction causes the formation of branches which may be evidenced by NMR analysis of constant composition suspension A-C copolymers. A kinetic scheme is proposed and the corresponding reactivity ratios derived r_A=0.29, r_c=1.60, r=0.3 (radical resulting from the transfer reaction), and k_T=1500 (rate constant of the transfer reaction at 50°C). The distribution of branches is calculated together with the sequence distribution functions for the .A. or Cunits.     

Manufacture of Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles Coated with Silica Shells

MgO@SiO₂ core–shell nanoparticles were manufactured, and a synthetic protocol was developed to prepare MgO nanoparticles where the SiO₂ shell thickness was less than 10 nm. The influence of synthesis parameters on the formation of MgO@SiO₂ nanoparticles was studied. The fact of a SiO₂ shell being formed on the MgO surface was established and the sizes of the thus-prepared MgO@SiO₂ nanoparticles were determined by TEM and Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy.     

Redox‐responsive core cross‐linked micelles of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(furfuryl methacrylate) by Diels‐Alder reaction for doxorubicin release

Redox‐responsive core cross‐linked (CCL) micelles of poly(ethylene oxide)‐b‐poly(furfuryl methacrylate) (PEO‐b‐PFMA) block copolymers were prepared by the Diels‐Alder click‐type reaction. First, the PEO‐b‐PFMA amphiphilic block copolymer was synthesized by the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The hydrophobic blocks of PFMA were employed to encapsulate the doxorubicin (DOX) drug, and they were cross‐linked using dithiobismaleimidoethane at 60 °C without any catalyst. Under physiological circumstance, the CCL micelles demonstrated the enhanced structural stability of the micelles, whereas dissociation of the micelles took place rapidly through the breaking of disulfide bonds in the cross‐linking linkages under reduction environment. The core‐cross‐linked micelles showed fine spherical distribution with hydrodynamic diameter of 68 ± 2.9  nm. The in vitro drug release profiles presented a slight release of DOX at pH 7.4, while a significant release of DOX was observed at pH 5.0 in the presence of 1,4‐dithiothreitol. MTT assays demonstrated that the block copolymer did not have any practically cytotoxicity against the normal HEK293 cell line while DOX‐loaded CCL micelles exhibited a high antitumor activity towards HepG2 cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 3741–3750     

Cinchona based squaramide catalysed enantioselective Michael addition of α-nitrophosphonates to aryl acrylates: enantioselective synthesis of quaternary α-aminophosphonates

Several cinchona based squaramide catalysts were applied to the asymmetric Michael addition of α-nitroethylphosphonates to acrylic acid aryl esters, resulting in high yields and enantioselectivities. The absolute configuration of one of the quaternary α-nitrophosphonate adducts was deduced from its experimental and calculated CD spectra. The adducts were reduced to their cyclic aminophosphonates by catalytic hydrogenation.     

Robust energy planning in buildings with energy and comfort costs

Energy management in buildings is addressed in this paper. The energetic impact of buildings in the current energetic context is first depicted. Then the studied optimization problem is defined as the optimal management of production and consumption activities in houses. A scheduling problem is identified to adjust the energy consumption to both the energy cost and the inhabitant’s comfort. The available flexibilities of the services provided by domestic appliances are used to compute optimal energy plans. These flexibilities are associated to time windows or heating storage abilities. A constraints formulation of the energy allocation problem is given. A derived mixed linear program is used to solve this problem. The energy consumption in houses is very dependent to uncertain data such as weather forecasts and inhabitants’ activities. Parametric uncertainties are introduced in the home energy management problem in order to provide robust energy allocation. Robust linear programming is implemented. Event related uncertainties are also addressed through stochastic programming in order to take into account the inhabitant’s activities. A scenario based approach is implemented to face this robust optimization problem.     

Oliveridepsidones A–D,antioxidant depsidones from Garcinia oliveri

Four new prenylated depsidones, oliveridepsidones A–D, were isolated from the bark of Garcinia oliveri collected in Vietnam. Their structures were elucidated using mainly NMR techniques (¹H and ¹³C NMR, HMQC, HMBC and NOE experiments). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.