Matrix effects on the multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometric analysis of high-precision cadmium and zinc isotope ratios

Resin-derived contaminants added to samples during column chemistry are shown to cause matrix effects that lead to inaccuracy in multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry measurement of small natural variations in Cd and Zn isotopic compositions. These matrix effects were evaluated by comparing pure Cd and Zn standards and standards doped with bulk column blank from the anion exchange chromatography procedure. Doped standards exhibit signal enhancements (Cd, Ag, Zn and Cu), instrumental mass bias changes and inaccurate isotopic compositions relative to undoped standards, all of which are attributed to the combined presence of resin-derived organics and inorganics. The matrix effect associated with the inorganic component of the column blanks was evaluated separately by doping standards with metals at the trace levels detected in the column blanks. Mass bias effects introduced by the inorganic column blank matrix are smaller than for the bulk column blank matrix but can still lead to significant changes in ion signal intensity, instrumental mass bias and isotopic ratios. Chemical treatment with refluxed HNO₃ or HClO₄/HNO₃ removes resin-derived organic components resulting in matrix effects similar in magnitude to those associated with the inorganic component of the column blank.Mass bias correction using combined external normalization-SSB does not correct for these matrix effects because the instrumental mass biases experienced by Cd and Zn are decoupled from those of Ag and Cu, respectively. Our results demonstrate that ion exchange chromatography and associated resin-derived contaminants can be a source of error in MC-ICP-MS measurement of heavy stable element isotopic compositions.     

Novel Flame‐Retardant and Thermally Stable Poly(Amide‐imide)s Based on Bicyclo[2,2,2]oct‐7‐Ene‐2,3,5,6‐Tetracarboxylic Diimide and Phosphine Oxide in the Main Chain: Synthesis and Characterization

Six novel poly(amide‐imide)s PAIs 5a‐f were synthesized through the direct polycondensation reaction of six chiral N,N′‐(bicyclo[2,2,2]oct‐7‐ene‐tetracarboxylic)‐bis‐L‐amino acids 3a‐f with bis(3‐amino phenyl) phenyl phosphine oxide 4 in a medium consisting of N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), triphenyl phosphite (TPP), calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and pyridine. The polymerization reaction produced a series of flame‐retardant and thermally stable poly(amide‐imide)s 5a‐f with high yield and good inherent viscosity of 0.39–0.83 dLg^?1. The resultant polymers were fully characterized by means of FTIR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, inherent viscosity, specific rotation and solubility tests. Thermal properties and flame retardant behavior of the PAIs 5a‐f were investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG) and limited oxygen index (LOI). Data obtained by thermal analysis (TGA and DTG) revealed that these polymers show good thermal stability. Furthermore, high char yields in TGA and good LOI values indicated that resultant polymers exhibited good flame retardant properties. N,N′‐(bicyclo[2,2,2]oct‐7‐ene‐tetracarboxylic)‐bis‐L‐amino acids 3a‐f were prepared in quantitative yields by the condensation reaction of bicyclo[2,2,2]oct‐7‐ene‐2,3,5,6‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride 1 with L‐alanine 2a , L‐valine 2b , L‐leucine 2c , L‐isoleucine 2d , L‐phenyl alanine 2e and L‐2‐aminobutyric acid 2f in acetic acid solution. These polymers can be potentially utilized in flame retardant thermoplastic materials.     

Locally uniformly rotund points in convex-transitive Banach spaces

Almost transitive superreflexive Banach spaces have been considered in [C. Finet, Uniform convexity properties of norms on superreflexive Banach spaces, Israel J. Math. 53 (1986) 81–92], where it is shown that they are uniformly convex and uniformly smooth. We characterize such spaces as those convex transitive Banach spaces satisfying conditions much weaker than that of uniform convexity (for example, that of having a weakly locally uniformly rotund point). We note that, in general, the property of convex transitivity for a Banach space is weaker than that of almost transitivity.     

The guaranteed cost control for uncertain nonlinear large-scale stochastic systems via state and static output feedback

The guaranteed cost control (GCC) problem involved in decentralized robust control of a class of uncertain nonlinear large-scale stochastic systems with high-order interconnections is considered. After determining the appropriate conditions for the stochastic GCC controller, a class of decentralized local state feedback controllers is derived using the linear matrix inequality (LMI). The extension of the result of the study to the static output feedback control problem is discussed by considering the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions. The efficiency of the proposed design method is demonstrated on the basis of simulation results.     

Efficient estimation for semiparametric varying- coefficient partially linear regression models with current status data

This article considers a semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear regression model with current status data. The semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear regression model which is a generalization of the partially linear regression model and varying-coefficient regression model that allows one to explore the possibly nonlinear effect of a certain covariate on the response variable. A Sieve maximum likelihood estimation method is proposed and the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are discussed. Under some mild conditions, the estimators are shown to be strongly consistent. The convergence rate of the estimator for the unknown smooth function is obtained and the estimator for the unknown parameter is shown to be asymptotically efficient and normally distributed. Simulation studies are conducted to examine the small-sample properties of the proposed estimates and a real dataset is used to illustrate our approach.     

LOW ORDER NONCONFORMING RECTANGULAR FINITE ELEMENT METHODS FOR DARCY-STOKES PROBLEMS

In this paper, we consider lower order rectangular finite element methods for the singularly perturbed Stokes problem. The model problem reduces to a linear Stokes problem when the perturbation parameter is large and degenerates to a mixed formulation of Poisson＇s equation as the perturbation parameter tends to zero. We propose two 2D and two 3D nonconforming rectangular finite elements, and derive robust discretization error estimates. Numerical experiments are carried out to verify the theoretical results.     

SOME NEW FAMILIES OF FILTRATION FIVE IN THE STABLE HOMOTOPY OF SPHERES

This study proves a general result on convergence of α2x ∈ ExtA^s＋2.tq＋2q＋1 （Zp, Zp） in the Adams spectral sequence and as a consequence, the study detects some new families in the stable homotopy groups of spheres πtq＋2q-4S which is represented in the Adams spectral sequence by α2fn,α2fn,α2huhmhn ∈ ExtA^5,tq＋2q＋1（Zp,Zp） with tq=p^n＋1q＋2p^nq,2p^n＋1q_P^nq,p^uq＋p^mq＋p^nq,respectively, where α2∈Extα^2,2q＋1（Zp,Zp）,fn∈ExtA^3,p^n＋1q＋2p^nq（Zp,Zp）,fn∈ExtA^3,2p^n＋2q＋p^nq（Zp,Zp）,hn∈ExtA^1,p^nq（Zp,Zp）and p≥5 is a prime,q=2（p=-1）,n≥2.     

A modified extragradient method for inverse-monotone operators in Banach spaces

We introduce an iterative procedure for finding a point in the zero set (a solution to 0 ∈ A(v) and v ∈ C) of an inverse-monotone or inverse strongly-monotone operator A on a nonempty closed convex subset C in a uniformly smooth and uniformly convex Banach space. We establish weak convergence results under suitable assumptions.      

On Weak Generalized Stability and (c,d)-Pseudostable Random Variables via Functional Equations

In this paper we give a first attempt to define and study stable distributions with respect to the weak generalized convolution, focusing our attention on the symmetric weakly stable distribution. As in the case of the classical convolution, characterization of distributions stable in the sense of weak generalized convolution depends on solving some functional equations in the class of characteristic functions. This paper was partially written while the second author was a visiting professor of Delft Institute of Applied Mathematics, Delft University of Technology, Holland.     

随机自变量多项式回归函数的估计问题

以随机函数逼近论的观点看待统计模型问题,得到了解决其问题的具有一般性的新途径与新方法,作出了随机自变量多项式回归函数及其相应的误差方差的优良估计,其优良性的标准包括强相合性、相合渐近正态性与L1收敛性.