CMARS and GAM & CQP—Modern optimization methods applied to international credit default prediction

In this paper, we apply newly developed methods called GAM & CQP and CMARS for country defaults. These are techniques refined by us using Conic Quadratic Programming. Moreover, we compare these new methods with common and regularly used classification tools, applied on 33 emerging markets’ data in the period of 1980-2005. We conclude that GAM & CQP and CMARS provide an efficient alternative in predictions. The aim of this study is to develop a model for predicting the countries’ default possibilities with the help of modern techniques of continuous optimization, especially conic quadratic programming. We want to show that the continuous optimization techniques used in data mining are also very successful in financial theory and application. By this paper we contribute to further benefits from model-based methods of applied mathematics in the financial sector. Herewith, we aim to help build up our nations.     

X-ray interferometry with microelectronvolt resolution

We demonstrate an interferometer for hard x rays with two back-reflecting sapphire crystal mirrors--a prototype x-ray Fabry-Pérot interferometer. A finesse of 15 and 0.76 mu eV broad Fabry-Pérot transmission resonances are measured by the time response of the interferometer. Interference patterns are observed directly in spectral dependences of reflectivity.     

Observation of Fe-H/D modes by nuclear resonant vibrational spectroscopy

Metal-hydrogen bonding is important in chemistry and catalysis, but H atoms are often difficult to observe, especially in metalloproteins. In this work we show that Fe-H interactions can be probed by nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy at the 14.4 keV 57Fe nuclear resonance. An important advantage of this method, compared to Raman and IR spectroscopy, is the selectivity for modes that involve 57Fe motion. We present data on the FeS4 site in rubredoxin and the [FeH(D)6]2- ion. Prospects for studying more complex systems are discussed.     

Long-range reactive dynamics in myoglobin

We report the complete vibrational spectrum of the probe nucleus 57Fe at the oxygen-binding site of the protein myoglobin. The Fe-pyrrole nitrogen stretching modes of the heme group, identified here, probe asymmetric interactions with the protein environment. Collective oscillations of the polypeptide, rather than localized heme vibrations, dominate the low frequency region. We conclude that the heme "doming" mode is significantly delocalized, so that distant sites respond to oxygen binding on vibrational time scales. This has ramifications for understanding long-range interactions in biomolecules, such as those that mediate cooperativity in allosteric proteins.     

Normal-mode analysis of FeCl4- and Fe2S2Cl42- via vibrational mössbauer, resonance Raman, and FT-IR spectroscopies

[NEt(4)][FeCl(4)], [P(C(6)H(5))(4)][FeCl(4)], and [NEt(4)](2)[Fe(2)S(2)Cl(4)] have been examined using (57)Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy (NRVS). These complexes serve as simple models for Fe-S clusters in metalloproteins. The (57)Fe partial vibrational density of states (PVDOS) spectra were interpreted by computation of the normal modes assuming Urey-Bradley force fields, using additional information from infrared and Raman spectra. Previously published force constants were used as initial values; the new constraints from NRVS frequencies and amplitudes were then used to refine the force field parameters in a nonlinear least-squares analysis. The normal-mode calculations were able to quantitatively reproduce both the frequencies and the amplitudes of the intramolecular-mode (57)Fe PVDOS. The optimized force constants for bending, stretching, and nonbonded interactions agree well with previously reported values. In addition, the NRVS technique also allowed clear observation of anion-cation lattice modes below 100 cm(-1) that are nontrivial to observe by conventional spectroscopies. These features were successfully reproduced, either by assuming whole-body motions of point-mass anions and cations or by simulations using all of the atoms in the unit cell. The advantages of a combined NRVS, Raman, and IR approach to characterization of Fe-S complexes are discussed.     

The influence of soda additive on the thermal properties of red mud

The dehydration and decomposition of the red mud from Seydięehir Aluminum factory, mixed with soda were investigated under dynamic and isothermal conditions. Soda was added to the red mud samples as much as 50, 100 and 150 mass% of Na₂CO₃ of the red mud sample's mass. To determine the effect of soda additive on the red mud's thermal properties, using TG and DTA techniques simultaneously under atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, the original red mud sample's XRD and IR spectrum curves were investigated. It seems that the temperatures of the endothermic peaks of the red mud decreased with the amount of soda added. However the endothermic peak's temperature readings showed that the melting of soda increased gradually with the quantity of soda used. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis, spectral studies, and determination of stability constants and thermodynamic parameters for some aromatic diamine transition-metal complexes

The Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes of aromatic bidentate diamines were prepared and characterized by different analytical and spectral methods. Thermodynamic parameters of complexes of Cu(II) and Zn(II) cations with 1,3-bis(p-aminophenoxy)propane were determined in 60 vol. % DMF-H₂O at various ionic strengths (0.07, 0.13, 0.2 M NaNO₃) and different temperatures (45, 50, 55, 60 ± 0.1°C) using a spectrophotometric method. The NaNO₃ solution was used to maintain the ionic strength. The stability constants show an inverse relationship with ionic strengths. The thermodynamic parameters of 60 vol. % DMF-H₂O (ΔG°, ΔH°, ΔS°) based on these formation constants were determined. The text was submitted by the authors in English.