Comparison of different approaches to the statistical evaluation of proficiency tests

The objective of this study was to compare different z-score calculation for the results from proficiency testing programmes. The comparison was carried out on the data from proficiency tests for four different matrices and for all analytes included in the proficiency testing programmes organised by UKZUZ institute from the year 2005 to 2007. It represented 99 samples (three periods per year and eleven samples distributed in each period); the number of determined analytes was 108 in each period. The total number of investigated data sets was 953. Three different approaches to z-score calculation were compared. The results gave reasonably comparable evaluation in most cases but sometimes UKZUZ method proved to be rather strict. The procedure using the robust average and robust standard deviation calculated according to Algorithm A described in ISO 13528 was found to be the most suitable for matrices and level of measurands in UKZUZ proficiency tests.     

A new integrated statistical approach to the diagnostic use of two-dimensional maps

Two-dimensional (2-D) electrophoresis is a very useful technique for the analysis of proteins in biological tissues. The complexity of the 2-D maps obtained causes many difficulties in the comparison of different samples. A new method is proposed for comparing different 2-D maps, based on five steps: (i) the digitalisation of the image; (ii) the transformation of the digitalised map in a fuzzy entity, in order to consider the variability of the 2-D electrophoretic separation; (iii) the calculation of a similarity index for each pair of maps; (iv) the analysis by multidimensional scaling of the previously obtained similarity matrix; (v) the analysis by classification or cluster analysis techniques of the resulting map co-ordinates. The method adopted was first tested on some simulated samples in order to evaluate its sensitivity to small changes in the spots position and size. The optimal setting of the method parameters was also investigated. Finally, the method was successfully applied to a series of real samples corresponding to the electrophoretic bidimensional analysis of sera from normal and nicotine-treated rats. Multidimensional scaling allowed the separation of the two classes of samples without any misclassification.     

A new theoretical approach to the empirical resonance energies of the aromatic hydrocarbons

In the framework of the Hückel MO approximation, the differences in total binding energy between a given molecule and the corresponding distorted Kekulé-type structure are calculated for a variety of benzenoid hydrocarbons. The total binding energy is assumed to be given by the sum of the -electron and -electron binding energies. It is shown that there is a good linear relationship between the calculated differences in total binding energy and the -electron delocalization energies (DE) as obtained by using the simple Hückel MO method. This provides a physical basis for the use of the -electron DE as a theoretical index to the empirical resonance energy (RE). Further, by examining the changes in -electron binding energy between a given molecule and the corresponding distorted Kekulé-type structure, it is concluded that in benzenoid hydrocarbons the main contributor to the RE is not the -electron DE but the compressional energy of bonds.     

A simple approach to predicting resonance levels

We propose a modification of Hazi and Taylor's stabilization method for calculating resonance energies by adding a positive definite operator to the hamiltonian. The purpose of this operator is to raise the energies of scattering states while not significantly affecting the bound or resonance states. The method has advantages over the ordinary stabilization techniques. We treat two model problems and discuss possible applications to atomic and molecular systems.     

A convergent approach to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

A new concise route to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) through radical addition and cyclisation of xanthates is described.     

A new approach to the determination of the statistical segment length of wormlike polymers

The Stockmayer-Fixman-Burchard (SFB) and the Dondos-Benoit (DB) equations have been applied to determine the unperturbed dimensions parameterK of wormlike polymers. An empirical relation between the Flory's constant and the Mark-Houwink-Sakurada (MHS) exponenta has been proposed. The values found by this equation are lower than the value 2.5×10²³ used in the case of flexible polymers and this deviation is attributed to the influence of the draining effect. From theK value and the so calculated value of , we calculate the Kuhn statistical segment length of wormlike polymers. The obtained — for a great number of wormlike polymers — statistical segment lengths are almost the same as these calculated by the Yamakawa-Fujii and the Bohdanecky methods. The molecular mass regions in which the SFB, the DB, and the MHS equations are valid are explored. A criterion for the distinction between flexible and wormlike polymers is proposed based on the way of approach to the power law.     

A statistical approach to delta layer depth profiling

We present a simple statistical model describing the removal and relocation of material during a sputter depth profiling experiment. All input parameters are determined from low‐fluence molecular dynamics simulations, making the model de facto parameter free. The model can be used to extrapolate data from the molecular dynamics simulations to projectile fluences relevant to sputter depth profiling experiments. As a result, the erosion of the surface is calculated in terms of fluence‐dependent filling factors of different sample layers. Using input data determined for the 20‐keV C₆₀ cluster bombardment of silicon, it is found that a steady‐state erosion profile is reached after removal of approximately 20 monolayer equivalents of material. Plotting the contribution of particles from a specific layer to the instantaneous sputtered flux, one can directly determine the delta layer response function predicted from such a model. It is shown that this function can be parameterized by the semiempirical Dowsett response function, and the resulting fitting parameters are compared with published depth profile data. The model is then used to study the role of different processes influencing the observed depth resolution. We find that the statistical nature of the sputtering process suffices to explain many features of experimentally measured delta layer depth profiles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new approach to the statistical treatment of 2D-maps in proteomics using fuzzy logic

A new approach to the statistical treatment of 2D-maps has been developed. This method is based on the use of fuzzy logic and allows to take into consideration the typical low reproducibility of 2D-maps. In this approach the signal corresponding to the presence of proteins on the 2D-maps is substituted with probability functions, centred on the signal itself. The standard deviation of the bidimensional gaussian probability function employed to blur the signal allows to assign different uncertainties to the two electrophoretic dimensions. The effect of changing the standard deviation and the digitalisation resolution are investigated.     

A novel anthraquinone annelation. A new approach to aklavinones.

1-Hydroxyanthraquinone has been annelated to a tetracyclic ketoester containing the major structural features of 4-deoxyaklavinone. The cyclization of the A-ring involves the first case of an anionic alkylation of an anthraquinone at a position which is not ortho to a phenolic function.     

Some new approaches to modifying aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds by means of fluorine-containing substituents

Modification of physiologically active substances by means of fluorine atoms or fluoroalkyl groups is known in numerous cases to lead to compounds with a markedly higher activity. The optimum change in the properties is considered to be achieved by inserting 1-3 fluorine atoms into the molecule. Therefore modifications of compounds by such groups as CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂F are most frequently used in synthesis of fluorine-containing pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicals.

At the same time, the data obtained in recent years indicate the existence of some others regularities. Thus, in a number of cases highly active drugs have been revealed among highly fluorinated substances containing polar groups of atoms in the molecule. The physiological activity of fluorine-containing compounds seems to be determined not so much by the degree of fluorination as by the relationship between the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic properties. This conclusion is quite justified, since it is the compound's lipophilic-hydrophilic balance that determines its transport in biosystems and the possibility of the interaction with the lipoprotein sites of biomembranes. Moreover, compounds with a heightened fluorine con-     

Cycloaddition reaction of pyrimidine-dienols with dienophiles. A new approach to quinazolines

A new synthetic approach to quinazolines bearing a carboxy group is described. Reaction of 5-carbonyl substituted 1,3,6-tri-methyluracils (I) with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate or electron-deficient olefines affords quinazoline derivatives (III-VI) $\text{via}$ pyrimidine(Z)-dienols (II) formed by base-catalyzed isomerization.     

Heterocyclizations with tosylmethyl isocyanide derivatives. A new approach to substituted azolopyrimidines

An efficient synthesis of substituted azolopyrimidines such as pyrido[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidines, pyrimido[1,6-a]indoles, benzo[4,5]imidazo-[1,2-c]pyrimidines, an imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine, and pyrazolo[1,5-c]pyrimidines is described. The method involves the reaction of N-protected bromomethylazoles and tosylmethyl isocyanide (TosMIC) derivatives in nonanhydrous media. The study of the reaction conditions shows that the method is only successful under phase-transfer conditions (CH2Cl2/30% aq NaOH) using benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a catalyst.     

A wave packet based statistical approach to complex-forming reactions

A wave packet based statistical model is suggested for complex-forming reactions. This model assumes statistical formation and decay of the long-lived reaction complex and computes reaction cross sections and their energy dependence from capture probabilities. This model is very efficient and reasonably accurate for reactions dominated by long-lived resonances, as confirmed by its application to the C((1)D)+H(2) reaction.     

A statistical approach to resonance energies of large molecules

For large conjugated molecules, resonance energies of SCF MO quality are not available. Here we outline a method of determining molecular resonance energies by combining a graph theoretical approach to aromaticity with a statistical analysis of random Kekule valence structures. The approach involves construction of random Kekule valence forms and subsequent enumeration of conjugated circuits within each such structure.     

A vicarious aromatic substitution approach to aklavinone from chrysazin

The cheap, available dye-intermediate 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone (2) is converted efficiently to a useful aklavinone precursor (3). A Mitsunobu alkylation-Claisen rearrangement sequence and an unprecedented vicarious aromatic substitution on an anthraquinone are employed as key steps.