Dependence and the asymptotic behavior of large claims reinsurance

We consider an extension of the classical compound Poisson risk model, where the waiting time between two consecutive claims and the forthcoming claim are no longer independent. Asymptotic tail probabilities of the reinsurance amount under ECOMOR and LCR treaties are obtained. Simulation results are provided in order to illustrate this.     

Thio sol–gel synthesis of titanium disulfide thin films and powders using titanium alkoxide precursors

Titanium alkoxides react at room temperature with H₂S to form an amorphous titanium alkoxy-sulfide precursor which can be converted to TiS₂ by heat-treatment in a flowing H₂S gas stream. The reaction of titanium isopropoxide (Ti(OPrⁱ)₄) with H₂S in n-butylamine solvent has been studied using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS), XRD and EDAX measurements. Based on these studies, it is shown that a partially sulfidized alkoxide precursor forms through the partial replacement of some alkoxy groups by hydrosulfide moieties. The alkoxy-hydrosulfide is believed to form following a thiolysis–condensation mechanism similar to the hydrolysis–condensation process that occurs during the oxide sol–gel reaction. The alkoxy-hydrosulfide species then undergoes complete sulfidization at 800 °C in a stream of H₂S to yield pure, hexagonal TiS₂ in either film or powder forms.     

Surface-enhanced vibrational investigation of adsorbed analgesics

Adsorption properties of acetylsalicylic acid (AA), ibuprofen and acetaminophen deposited from volatile solvents with varying protic/aprotic properties on vacuum-evaporated silver films were characterized using surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). SERS preferentially enhances monolayer Raman shifts, while SEIRA can enhance the infrared absorbance of the monolayer and multilayers. To our best knowledge, this is the first reported study of these molecules using a combination of SERS/SEIRA. SERS revealed that AA and ibuprofen adsorbed ionically in monolayers, independent of the deposition solvents used in the process. SEIRA experiments showed that AA multilayers condensed molecularly using a deposition solvent with polar bonds. However, when an alkane deposition solvent with non-polar bonds such as n-heptane was used, AA adsorbed as acetylsalicylate ions in the first few multilayers, while ibuprofen always adsorbed as the free acid in the multilayer. These ionization trends depend upon the affinity of AA and ibuprofen for the underlying silver film. TPD experiments on silver powders further demonstrated that ibuprofen affinity for silver was less than AA. Furthermore, SEIRA indicated that acetaminophen adsorbed as multilayers of metastable polymorphs using protic or polar aprotic deposition solvents. Protic deposition solvents gave higher quality SERS spectra of an acetaminophen monolayer in comparison to polar aprotic deposition solvents. Such studies could find significant applications in biochemical and nanotechnology processes such as drug delivery, catalysis, and tissue engineering and will contribute to the understanding of the impact and fate of analgesics released into the environment.     

Simultaneous determination of methylxanthines in different types of tea by a newly developed and validated TLC method

The aim of this paper is to develop a new simple, fast and economical method for simultaneous quantitative determination of methylxanthine compounds based on TLC combined with image analysis. To obtain certain results, both extraction and chromatographic separation were optimized. The optimum extraction conditions were maceration in ethanol-water 8:2, v/v. The chromatographic separations were done on the silica gel F(254) TLC plates developed with chloroform-dichloromethane-isopropanol, 4:2:1 v/v/v. Detection was performed under UV lamp at 254?nm and the evaluation of the chromatographic plate was based on digital processing of chromatographic images. The developed TLC method was validated for parameters such as specificity, linearity and range, LOD and LOQ, precision, robustness and accuracy. This method was then applied for determination of caffeine, theobromine and theophylline in different types of tea, commercially available. Moreover, the content of methylxanthines detected and determined in commercial tea samples can be used as chemical marker in quality control.     

Halide ions complex and deprotonate dipicolinamides and isophthalamides: assessment by mass spectrometry and UV-visible spectroscopy

The F(-), Cl(-), and Br(-) binding selectivity of bis(p-nitroanilide)s of dipicolinic and isophthalic acids was studied by using competitive electrospray mass spectrometry and UV-Visible spectroscopy. Both hosts prefer binding Cl(-) over either F(-) or Br(-). Host deprotonation was observed to some extent in all experiments in which the host was exposed to halide ions. When F(-) was present, host deprotonation was often the major process, whereas little deprotonation was observed by Cl(-) or Br(-), which preferred complexation. A solution of either host changed color when mixed with a F(-), H(2)PO(4)(-), di- or triphenylacetate solution.