Discussion of Akaike Memorial Lecture 2020: Some of the challenges of statistical applications

Annals of the Institute of Statistical Mathematics -     

Resonantly enhanced nonlinear conductance in long quantum point contacts near pinch-off

We report on a remarkable resonance in the differential conductance of long quantum point contacts (QPCs) that is observed as a precursor to regular quantized transport. This effect is increasingly pronounced in longer QPCs, in which the differential conductance may resonantly exceed 2e2/h. From a study of the experimental characteristics of this feature, we suggest that it may be associated with the formation of a well-resolved energy gap that opens dynamically as a result of enhanced many-body interactions in long QPCs.     

Preparation of soluble graft polymers from allyl benzoate/2,2′‐azobis(N‐(2‐propenyl)‐2‐methylpropionamide) crosslinked polymers as insoluble polymeric azo initiators

2,2′‐Azobis(N‐(2‐propenyl)‐2‐methylpropionamide) (APMPA) having two carbon‐carbon double bonds and an azo group was copolymerized with allyl benzoate (ABz) at 60°C, providing an azo groups containing ABz/APMPA crosslinked polymer which may act as an insoluble polymeric azo initiator. The gelation in ABz/APMPA (70/30 mol/mol) copolymerization was discussed in detail in order to reveal the characteristic polymerization behavior of APMPA as a novel diallyl monomer. The effectiveness of the resulting ABz/APMPA crosslinked polymer to give a soluble graft polymer through cleavage of the azo crosslinkages at an elevated temperature was then examined by polymerizing ABz at 120°C.     

Thermal decomposition of basic copper carbonate,CuCO3 · Cu(OH)2 · H2O,in carbon dioxide atmosphere (0–50 atm)

The thermal decomposition of basic copper carbonate, CuCO₃ · Cu(OH)₂ · H₂O, was studied by high-pressure DTA under high-pressure carbon dioxide (0–50 atm).The DTA-TG measurement in air showed that the peak temperature was influenced more by heating rate than by sample weight.Decomposition via dehydration and decarbonation was rapidly finished in a single step, and no intermediate was found. The decomposition temperature was strongly influenced by the partial pressure of carbon dioxide. The decomposition temperature increased in the range 0 atm < _Pco2 < 7 atm, but was nearly constant above P_co2 = 7 atm. Explaining these phenomena was approached by various considerations.     

Synthesis, solid-state structures, and aggregation motifs of phosphines and phosphine oxides bearing one 2-pyridone ring

Three phosphines and their corresponding oxides bearing one 2-pyridone ring and two benzene rings were synthesized. Their single-crystal X-ray analyses exhibited three kinds of molecular aggregation: bimolecular aggregates, chiral one-dimensional structures, and achiral one-dimensional structures. In the bimolecular aggregate of (2-oxo-1, 2-dihydro-x-pyridyl)diphenylphosphines (x = 3: 2a and 6: 2c), cyclic dimers that are derived from two 2-pyridone rings are observed. In contrast, (2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-5-pyridyl)diphenylphosphine (2b) molecules form a chiral one-dimensional chain via intermolecular hydrogen bonding. In the case of phosphine oxides, their oxygen always acts as a hydrogen acceptor of the hydrogen bonding. Thus, (2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-x-pyridyl)diphenylphosphine oxides (x = 3: 3a and 5: 3b) form hydrogen bonds intermolecularly between the oxygen atom on the phosphoryl group and the hydrogen atom on nitrogen to construct a chiral or an achiral one-dimensional chain. Interestingly, (2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-6-pyridyl)diphenylphosphine oxide (3c) exists as a 2-hydroxypyridine form (enol form) in a crystalline state, and intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the phosphoryl oxygen and the hydroxy proton construct an achiral one-dimensional chain.     

Graft polymerization of allyl benzoate using poly(allyl benzoate-co-2,2′-azobis[N-(2-propenyl)-2-methylpropionamide]) as polymeric azo-initiator

2,2′-Azobis[N-(2-propenyl)-2-methylpropionamide] (APMPA), a diallyl azo-compound useful as an initiator at elevated temperatures, was copolymerized with allyl benzoate (ABz) at 60°C, providing poly(ABz-co-APMPA) which acts as a polymeric azo-initiator. The effectiveness of poly(ABz-co-APMPA) to give a novel graft copolymer was checked by polymerizing ABz at 120°C and, furthermore, by the polymerization of styrene accompanied by crosslinking through termination by bimolecular combination.