Comments on a recently published paper ‘some surprising properties of multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) algorithms’

Some of the results given in a recently published paper in this journal concerning some surprising properties of the multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) method are discussed. My results showed that the surprising properties of MCR‐ALS refer only to the slow linear convergence properties of ALS algorithms and to rounding error computer calculations. Results obtained by MCR‐ALS for the first data example were correct and no significant differences were observed in the resolved profiles. In the second more complex data example, large rotation ambiguities were present for the spectrum profile of the very minor second component which was not correctly estimated by MCR‐ALS. However, even in this case, the subspaces spanned by the MCR‐ALS solutions were also very close to the correct ones apart from slow convergence properties of the MCR‐ALS algorithm in this case. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous Anodic Stripping Voltammetric Determination of Pb and Cd,Using a Vibrating Gold Microwire Electrode,Assisted by Chemometric Techniques

Simultaneous anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Pb and Cd is restricted on gold electrodes as a result of the overlapping of these two peaks. This work describes the quantitative determination of a binary mixture system of Pb and Cd, at low concentration levels (up to 15.0 and 10.0 µg L^?1 for Pb and Cd, respectively) by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV; deposition time of 30 s), using a green electrode (vibrating gold microwire electrode) without purging in a chloride medium (0.5 M NaCl) under moderate acidic conditions (HCl 1.0 mM), assisted by chemometric tools. The application of multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) for the resolution and quantification of both metals is shown. The optimized MCR‐ALS models showed good prediction ability with concentration prediction errors of 12.4 and 11.4 % for Pb and Cd, respectively. The quantitative results obtained by MCR‐ALS were compared to those obtained with partial least squares (PLS) and classical least squares (CLS) regression methods. For both metals, PLS and MCR‐ALS results are comparable and superior to CLS. For Cd, as a result of the peak shift problem, the application of CLS was unsuitable. MCR‐ALS provides additional advantage compared to PLS since it estimates the pure response of the analytes signal. Finally, the built up multivariate calibration models, based either in MCR‐ALS or PLS regression, allowed to quantify concentrations of Pb and Cd in surface river water samples, with satisfactory results.     

Rejoinder to ‘Comments on a recently published paper “Some surprising properties of multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) algorithms”’

This rejoinder addresses comments recently published in this journal on the paper titled ‘Some surprising properties of multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) algorithms’. It is explained again that the revealed discrepancy of MCR‐ALS algorithms, i.e. the sub‐ and even the final solutions can be outside the range of the data matrix, does exist and this theoretical fact could not be refuted by Tauler. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Complexation of Hg2+ with α‐Lipoic and Dihydrolipoic Acids: Study by Differential Pulse Voltammetry on Rotating Au‐Disk Electrode and ESI‐MS

The complexation of the natural antioxidants α‐lipoic acid (ALA) and its reduced form dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) with Hg²⁺ was investigated by a recently proposed differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) method using the rotating Au‐disk electrode. Complexation processes are proposed from the multivariate curve resolution by alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) analysis of DPV titration data. Main complexes were both 1 : 1 Hg : ALA and Hg : DHLA, although the formation of 1 : 2 complexes can be also deduced. ALA and DHLA show different Hg²⁺‐binding patterns at different pH. Voltammetric findings are completed with the data obtained by electrospray ionization mass‐spectrometry (ESI‐MS), especially in negative mode.     

Application of maximum likelihood multivariate curve resolution to noisy data sets

In this work, two different maximum likelihood approaches for multivariate curve resolution based on maximum likelihood principal component analysis (MLPCA) and on weighted alternating least squares (WALS) are compared with the standard multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) method. To illustrate this comparison, three different experimental data sets are used: the first one is an environmental aerosol source apportionment; the second is a time‐course DNA microarray, and the third one is an ultrafast absorption spectroscopy. Error structures of the first two data sets were heteroscedastic and uncorrelated, and the difference between them was in the existence of missing values in the second case. In the third data set about ultrafast spectroscopy, error correlation between the values at different wavelengths is present. The obtained results confirmed that the resolved component profiles obtained by MLPCA‐MCR‐ALS are practically identical to those obtained by MCR‐WALS and that they can differ from those resolved by ordinary MCR‐ALS, especially in the case of high noise. It is shown that methods that incorporate uncertainty estimations (such as MLPCA‐ALS and MCR‐WALS) can provide more reliable results and better estimated parameters than unweighted approaches (such as MCR‐ALS) in the case of the presence of high amounts of noise. The possible advantage of using MLPCA‐MCR‐ALS over MCR‐WALS is then that the former does not require changing the traditional MCR‐ALS algorithm because MLPCA is only used as a preliminary data pretreatment before MCR analysis. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Multivariate Curve Resolution Approach to the Study of the Degradation Kinetics of Valsartan under Photolytic and Acid Conditions

The analysis of UV‐spectrophotometric data with second‐order chemometrics techniques, including multivariate curve resolution with alternating least‐squares (MCR‐ALS) and hybrid hard‐ and soft MCR (HS‐MCR), was examined as an alternative tool for studying the kinetics of drug degradation under stress conditions, employing valsartan (VAL) as a model drug. Despite small structural and spectroscopic differences between VAL and its degradation products, MCR‐ALS and HS‐MCR were able to detect the generation of two photoneutral degradation products (DP‐1 and DP‐2) and a single acid hydrolysis product (DP‐3), providing good approximations to their pure spectra and concentration profiles, from which estimations of the kinetic profiles and rate constants were obtained. Kinetic models based on first‐order reactions explained the degradation processes. MCR‐ALS and HS‐MCR analyses yielded similar rate constants; however, the latter was capable of more properly fitting the experimental data to a kinetic model in the case of drug photolysis. The results were confirmed by comparison with data obtained by HPLC analysis of the degraded samples.     

Multivariate curve resolution of mixed bacterial DNA sequence spectra: identification and quantification of bacteria in undefined mixture samples

A comprehensive understanding of factors that influence microbial competition and cooperation, their diversity and processes will be greatly beneficial in many research areas. Current tools for microflora determinations are far from suitable for high‐throughput monitoring of development in complex microbial communities. Here, we describe the application of a calibration free method, multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS), for identification and quantification of different microbes in mixture samples. The idea is to utilize MCR‐ALS to enable close monitoring of ecology in a variety of microbial communities. The data from two designed experiments consisting of DNA sequence spectra measured on mixtures were analysed with MCR‐ALS using no prior information on the data except for appropriate constraints, such as non‐negativity and closure. The results were compared both to the known true concentrations as well as to the results obtained from the well‐established multivariate calibration method partial least squares (PLS) regression. MCR‐ALS performed as well as PLS regression, successfully extracting all pure bacterial spectra and quantitative information on these, with 97.81% and 97.91% explained variance for the first and the second data set, respectively. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative Study of Hard‐ and Soft‐Modeling Algorithms for Kinetic Data Processing

This article critically compares the efficacy of three algorithms, namely Alternating Least‐squares Multi Curve Resolution (ALS‐MCR), Hard Modeling Alternating Least‐squares (HM‐ALS), and classical Hard Modeling Multi Curve Resolution (HM‐MCR) in finding the true values of rate constants associated with a kinetic model. Simulated experiments on the simple system () indicate that soft‐modeling ALS‐MRC methodology, which is subject only to linear constraints, does not ensure that experimental responses are correctly deconvolved, thus preventing further calculations to determine the true rate constants. Inclusion of the kinetic model in the ALS scheme, which gives rise to the HM‐ALS methodology, was found to yield a correct assessment of the rate coefficients but had a large computational cost. Numerical experiments employing a more complex model () were also carried out, mainly to evaluate strategies for performing efficient searches on multidimensional multimodal least‐squares surfaces using HM‐ALS and HM‐MCR. This study again revealed the efficiency and reliability of classical HM‐MCR methods. Results from simulations were corroborated by analysis of data from an experimental study of chromate reduction by hydrogen peroxide; the mechanism of which is similar in complexity to those considered in simulations. The present work suggests that HM‐MCR algorithms implementing a multiminimum search strategy are the method of choice for analyzing two‐dimensional kinetic data.     

Voltammetric,UV–Vis Spectrometric and Fluorescence Study of the Interaction of Ractopamine and DNA with the Aid of Multivariate Curve Resolution‐Alternating Least Squares

Interaction of a steroid drug, Ractopamine (RAC), and DNA was investigated by electroanalysis‐differential pulse and cyclic voltammetry (DPV and CV), and UV‐vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. DPV showed that RAC intercalated with DNA, and CV indicated that the reaction mechanism of RAC and dsDNA involved irreversible oxidation with the loss of two H⁺ and a transfer of two electrons. Reaction binding parameters were obtained. Pure spectra of RAC, DNA and the RAC‐DNA complex, and their concentrations were extracted by multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares method (MCR‐ALS). Concentration profiles indicated quantitatively the course of the reaction.     

On the implementation of spatial constraints in multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares for hyperspectral image analysis

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a method for exploring spatial and spectral information associated with the distribution of the different compounds in a chemical or biological sample. Amongst the multivariate image analysis tools utilized to decompose the raw data into a bilinear model, multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) can be applied to obtain the distribution maps and pure spectra of the components of the sample image. However, a requirement is to have the data in a two‐way matrix. Thus, a preliminary step consists of unfolding the raw HSI data into a single‐pixel direction. Consequently, through this data manipulation, the information regarding pixel neighboring is lost, and spatial information cannot directly be constrained on the component profiles in the current MCR‐ALS algorithm. In this short communication, we propose an adaptation of the MCR‐ALS framework, enabling the potential implementation of any variation of spatial constraint. This can be achieved by adding, at each least‐squares step, refolding/unfolding of the distribution maps for the components. The implementation of segmentation, shape smoothness, and image modeling as spatial constraints is proposed as a proof of concept. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Band‐selective excited ultrahigh resolution PSYCHE‐TOCSY: fast screening of organic molecules and complex mixtures

Precise assignments of ¹H atomic sites and establishment of their through‐bond COSY or TOCSY connectivity are crucial for molecular structural characterization by using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. However, this exercise is often hampered by signal overlap, primarily because of ¹H–¹H scalar coupling multiplets, even at typical high magnetic fields. The recent developments in homodecoupling strategies for effectively suppressing the coupling multiplets into nice singlets (pure‐shift), particularly, Morris's advanced broadband pure‐shift yielded by chirp excitation (PSYCHE) decoupling and ultrahigh resolution PSYCHE‐TOCSY schemes, have shown new possibilities for unambiguous structural elucidation of complex organic molecules. The superior broadband PSYCHE‐TOCSY exhibits enhanced performance over the earlier TOCSY methods, which however warrants prolonged experimental times due to the requirement of large number of dwell increments along the indirect dimension. Herein, we present fast and band‐selective analog of the broadband PSYCHE‐TOCSY, which is useful for analyzing complex organic molecules that exhibit characteristic yet crowded spectral regions. The simple pulse scheme relies on band‐selective excitation (BSE) followed by PSYCHE homodecoupling in the indirect dimension. The BSE‐PSYCHE‐TOCSY has been exemplified for Estradiol and a complex carbohydrate mixture comprised of six constituents of closely comparable molecular weights. The experimental times are greatly reduced viz., ~20 fold for Estradiol and ~10 fold for carbohydrate mixture, with respect to the broadband PSYCHE‐TOCSY. Furthermore, unlike the earlier homonuclear band‐selective decoupling, the BSE‐PSYCHE‐decoupling provides fully decoupled pure‐shift spectra for all the individual chemical sites within the excited band. The BSE‐PSYCHE‐TOCSY is expected to have significant potential for quick screening of complex organic molecules and mixtures at ultrahigh resolution. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Styrene‐ethylene co‐oligomerization with bis‐(diphenylphosphino)‐amine/chromium catalysts and the use of the co‐oligomerization products in copolymerization reactions with metallocenes

Ethylene‐styrene (or 4‐methylstyrene) co‐oligomerization using various bis(diphenylphoshino)amine ligands in combination with chromium is discussed. GC analysis of the reaction mixture shows that various phenyl‐hexene and phenyl‐octene isomers are formed either through cotrimerization or cotetramerization. It seems that the more bulky ligands display lower selectivity to co‐oligomerization and favor ethylene homo‐oligomerization. Subsequent copolymerization of the oligomerization reaction mixture using a metallocene polymerization catalyst results in a copolymer with a branched structure as indicated by Crystaf and ¹³C NMR analysis. Assignments of the ¹³C NMR spectrum are proposed from an APT NMR experiment combined with calculated NMR chemical shift data using additivity rules. An indication of the ability of the different co‐oligomerization products to copolymerize into the polyethylene chain could be established from these assignments. Unreacted styrene and the more bulky isomers, 3‐phenyl‐1‐hexene and 3‐phenyl‐1‐octene, are not readily incorporated while branches resulting from the other isomers present in the co‐oligomerization reaction mixture are detected in the NMR spectrum. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. JPolym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1488–1501, 2008     

Independent component analysis (ICA) algorithms for improved spectral deconvolution of overlapped signals in 1H NMR analysis: application to foods and related products

The major challenge facing NMR spectroscopic mixture analysis is the overlapping of signals and the arising impossibility to easily recover the structures for identification of the individual components and to integrate separated signals for quantification. In this paper, various independent component analysis (ICA) algorithms [mutual information least dependent component analysis (MILCA); stochastic non‐negative ICA (SNICA); joint approximate diagonalization of eigenmatrices (JADE); and robust, accurate, direct ICA algorithm (RADICAL)] as well as deconvolution methods [simple‐to‐use‐interactive self‐modeling mixture analysis (SIMPLISMA) and multivariate curve resolution‐alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS)] are applied for simultaneous ¹H NMR spectroscopic determination of organic substances in complex mixtures. Among others, we studied constituents of the following matrices: honey, soft drinks, and liquids used in electronic cigarettes. Good quality spectral resolution of up to eight‐component mixtures was achieved (correlation coefficients between resolved and experimental spectra were not less than 0.90). In general, the relative errors in the recovered concentrations were below 12%. SIMPLISMA and MILCA algorithms were found to be preferable for NMR spectra deconvolution and showed similar performance. The proposed method was used for analysis of authentic samples. The resolved ICA concentrations match well with the results of reference gas chromatography–mass spectrometry as well as the MCR‐ALS algorithm used for comparison. ICA deconvolution considerably improves the application range of direct NMR spectroscopy for analysis of complex mixtures. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of Catalytically Active Zinc Oxide−Carbon Nanotube Composite on Sensitive Assay of Desloratadine Metabolite

Desloratadine is one of the most effective second‐generation antihistamines and the electrochemical behavior of the active agent of desloratadine was investigated with a new nanosensor designed with the addition of zinc oxide and multiwalled carbon nanotube (ZnO : MWCNT) mixture on glassy carbon (GCE). By investigating and using cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry techniques with ZnO : MWCNT/GCE, it is planned to obtain information about quantification and mechanism of desloratadine. The efficiency of experimental parameters such as pH, scan rate, accumulation potential and time on the anodic response of desloratadine were studied. Differential pulse voltammetry was selected as assay method and under developed method and optimized conditions, the current showed linear dependence with concentration in the range between 2×10^?8 and 8×10^?6 M in pH 5.5 acetate buffer. The achieved limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) are 0.769 nM and 2.56 nM respectively. Applicability of the methods was demonstrated by their implementation in pharmaceutical dosage forms of desloratadine and the accuracy, precision, selectivity, sensitivity, intra‐day and day‐to‐day reproducibility of the methods were clearly explored. Finally, this sensor was successfully applied on real sample as a selective, simple, reproducible, repeatable an electrochemical sensor.     

1,6‐ and 1,7‐Regioisomers of Dicyano‐Substituted Perylene Bisimides: Synthesis,Optical and Electrochemical Properties

In this study, 1,6‐ ad 1,7‐regioisomers of dicyano‐substituted perylene bisimides (1,6‐ C and 1,7‐ C ) were synthesized and successfully isolated from their regioisomeric mixture using conventional methods of separation, and subsequently characterized by 400 MHz ¹H NMR spectroscopy. This is the first time that the 1,6‐dicyanoperylene bisimide 1,6‐ C has been obtained in pure form. Moreover, the optical and electrochemical properties of 1,6‐ C and 1,7‐ C were found to be virtually the same. Time‐dependent density functional theory calculations performed on both dyes are reported in order to rationalize their electronic structures and optical properties.     

Detection of nanoscale η‐MgZn2 phase dissolution from an Al‐Zn‐Mg‐Cu alloy by electrochemical microtransients

In this article we demonstrate how the dissolution of nanosize intermetallic particles present in Al alloys can be detected using microelectrochemical techniques. The local electrochemical properties of a high‐strength Al‐Zn‐Mg‐Cu alloy, which contains nanoscale η‐MgZn₂ phases, were investigated with a microcapillary cell. At the open‐circuit potential (OCP) with the sample surface in the range of 1000 µm², potential fluctuations (microtransients) can be observed. Under polarization of such small areas, current transients are detected in the passive range of the alloy. An estimation of the size of dissolution events from the charge passed during the current transient leads to the conclusion that the current transients could stem from the dissolution of η‐phase particles, with diameters in the order of 100 nm. This size scale corresponds well with the size of the grain‐boundary MgZn₂. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high‐resolution SEM images provide further insights for possible mechanisms leading either to potential or to current microtransients. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Single‐pulse pulsed laser polymerization–electron paramagnetic resonance investigations into the termination kinetics of n‐butyl acrylate macromonomers

The termination of model mid‐chain radicals (MCRs), which mimic radicals that occur in acrylate polymerization over a broad range of reaction conditions, has been studied by single‐pulse pulsed laser polymerization (SP‐PLP) in conjunction with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The model radicals were generated by initiator‐fragment addition to acrylic macromonomers that were preformed prior to the kinetic experiments, thus enabling separation of termination from the propagation reaction, for these model radicals propagate sparingly, if at all, on the timescale of SP‐PLP experiments. Termination rate coefficients of the MCRs were determined in the temperature range of 0–60°C in acetonitrile and butyl propionate solution as well as in bulk macromonomer over the range of 0–100 °C. Termination rate coefficients slightly below those of the corresponding secondary radicals were deduced, demonstrating the relatively high termination activity of this species, even when undergoing MCR–MCR termination. For chain length of 10, a reduction by a factor of 6 is observed. Unusually high activation energies were found for the termination rate coefficient in these systems, with 35 kJ mol^?1 being determined for bulk macromonomer. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Electrochemical Study of Gliclazide and Its Complexation with β‐Cyclodextrin

The electrochemical oxidation of gliclazide has been investigated at glassy carbon electrode in phosphate buffer solutions over the pH range 2.7–11.8 using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Gliclazide exhibited one anodic peak in the pH range of 2.7–6.3 and a second peak was produced above pH 6.3. The oxidation processes have been shown to be irreversible and diffusion controlled. The formation of an inclusion complex of gliclazide with β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) has been investigated by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. A phase solubility study with spectrophotometric detection has been also applied. The stability constant of the complex was determined to be 839 and 360 M^?1 using the differential pulse voltammetric method and the phase solubility method, respectively.     

Metabolic profiling for the identification of Huntington biomarkers by on‐line solid‐phase extraction capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry combined with advanced data analysis tools

In this work, an untargeted metabolomic approach based on sensitive analysis by on‐line solid‐phase extraction capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry (SPE‐CE‐MS) in combination with multivariate data analysis is proposed as an efficient method for the identification of biomarkers of Huntington's disease (HD) progression in plasma. For this purpose, plasma samples from wild‐type (wt) and HD (R6/1) mice of different ages (8, 12, and 30 weeks), were analyzed by C₁₈‐SPE‐CE‐MS in order to obtain the characteristic electrophoretic profiles of low molecular mass compounds. Then, multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR‐ALS) was applied to the multiple full scan MS datasets. This strategy permitted the resolution of a large number of metabolites being characterized by their electrophoretic peaks and their corresponding mass spectra. A total number of 29 compounds were relevant to discriminate between wt and HD plasma samples, as well as to follow‐up the HD progression. The intracellular signaling was found to be the most affected metabolic pathway in HD mice after 12 weeks of birth, when mice already showed motor coordination deficiencies and cognitive decline. This fact agreed with the atrophy and dysfunction of specific neurons, loss of several types of receptors, and changed expression of neurotransmitters.     

Electrochemical Oxidation of Desipramine Drug in the Presence of 4,6‐Dimethylpyrimidine‐2‐thiol Nucleophile in Aqueous Acidic Medium

Electrochemical oxidation of desipramine (DES) has been studied in the presence of 4,6‐dimethylpyrimidine‐2‐thiol (DMPT) as nucleophile in acidic medium by means of cyclic voltammetry, controlled‐potential electrolysis and spectroscopic data, as diagnostic techniques. Voltammetric studies of electro‐oxidation of desipramine were realized in a range of pH 1.0 to 8.0 in the absence and presence of DMPT. The results indicate the participation of the product of electrochemical oxidation of desipramine in the reaction with DMPT with ECEC electrochemical mechanism. However, the voltammetry and coulometry results imply existence of a catalytic (EC′) electrochemical mechanism in parallel with ECEC electrochemical mechanism. The product has been characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS methods.