Estimation of the extreme value index and extreme quantiles under random censoring

In this paper, we consider the estimation of the extreme value index and extreme quantiles in the presence of random right censoring. The generalization of the peaks over threshold method is discussed and an adaptation of the moment estimator is proposed. The corresponding extreme quantile estimators are also introduced. We make a start with the analysis of the asymptotic properties of the moment estimator and the corresponding extreme quantile estimator. The finite sample behaviour is illustrated with a small simulation study and through practical examples from survival data analysis.      

Deoxygenation at C-4 and Stereospecific Branched-Chain Construction at C-3 of a Methyl Hexopyranuloside. Synthetic Approach to the Amipurimycin Sugar Moiety

A five-step synthesis from 3 leading to a partially protected amipurimycin sugar moiety 14 in an overall yield of 47% is described and includes deoxygenation at C-4 and regio- and stereoselective construction of the branched chain. Deoxygenation at C-4 of 3 was possible by three different methods. Radical reduction with tri-n-butyltin hydride of the appropriate phenoxythiocarbonyl derivative afforded the desired deoxysugar 5 in 47% overall yield together with the secondary products 6 and 7 due to depivaloylation at C-2 and elimination of methanol. The most adequate deoxygenation procedure used the system Ph(3)P/I(2)/imidazole which led to the preparation of 5 in one step in 61% yield. When the system Ph(3)PBr(2)/Ph(3)P was tried, only 8 was formed due to elimination of methanol. The synthesis of 5 was then accomplished by reaction of 8 with methanol in the presence of triphenylphosphine hydrobromide in 37% overall yield. Branched-chain construction was accomplished by Wittig reaction of 5 with [(ethoxycarbonyl)methylene]triphenylphosphorane, followed by osmilation and reduction with lithium aluminum hydride. Isopropylidenation of 14 afforded 16 with a free hydroxy group at C-6 for chain elongation and further synthesis of amipurimycin.     

Synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on a clay mineral surface in dimethyl sulfoxide medium

Nanocrystalline ZnO particles have been prepared with different methods using zinc cyclohexanebutyrate as precursor in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) medium via alkaline hydrolysis. A series of preparations were carried out in the presence of layered silicates (kaolinite and montmorillonite). It was revealed by different measurement techniques that the presence of the clay minerals has a stabilization influence on the size of the ZnO nanocrystals. UV-vis absorption spectra show a blue shift when the nanoparticles are prepared in the presence of the clay minerals. The average particle diameters calculated from the Brus equation ranged from 2.6 to 13.0 nm. The UV-vis spectra of the synthesized nanoparticles did not show any red shift after 2-3 days, demonstrating that stable ZnO nanocrystals are present in the dispersions. The presence of the ZnO nanoparticles was also proven by fluorescence measurements. A number of the nanoparticles are incorporated into the interlamellar space of the clays, and an intercalated structure is formed as proven by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The size of the nanoparticles in the interlamellar space is in the range of 1-2 nm according to the XRD patterns. Transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy investigations were applied to determine directly the particle size and the size distribution of the nanoparticles.     

Effect of several sterilisation techniques on homogeneous self assembled monolayers

Understanding how cells sense their environment and are able to regulate their metabolism is of great importance for the success of biomaterials implantation. Self assembled monolayers (SAMs) are in use nowadays to model the surface of such materials. They permit the control of different surface parameters (like chemistry, surface energy and topography) enabling to get a greater insight in cells behaviour when interacting with surfaces and thus, in the future, to enhance surface properties of biomaterials. As sterilisation is the compulsory step for in vitro and in vivo assays with living biological materials, it is important to know how SAMs react under sterilisation techniques in use on biomaterials. In this work, the effect of three types of sterilisation techniques: gamma-irradiation, mostly used on biomaterials, dry heat and steam autoclaving, have been investigated on NH2 and CH3 terminated SAMs. Gamma-irradiation destructs drastically the NH2 and partially the CH3 monolayers by producing oxidative compounds (COOH, C=O, C-OH). The main product induced by gamma-irradiation on NH2 monolayers is carboxylic acid, whereas CH3 shows an important increase in the amount of alcoholic groups. This difference in deterioration is assumed to be due to the higher stability of the CH3 monolayer. Steam autoclaving to a lesser extent gives the same results on NH2 monolayers. Dry heat seems to be the most reliable technique, which can be used on such surfaces as it removes physically adsorbed organic contaminants without affecting the integrity of the surface.     

New multidentate potential ionophors of ether-amide type

The syntheses of acyclic compounds featuring ether-amide groups and different terminal substituents are presented. Three series of new multidentate potential ligands were obtained.

---

Neue mehrzähnige potentielle Ionophore des Ether-Amid-Typs

Zusammenfassung Es wird die Synthese acyclischer Verbindungen mit Ether-Amid-Gruppen und verschiedenen endständigen Substituenten beschrieben. Es wurden drei Verbindungsreihen erhalten, die neue potentielle mehrzähnige Liganden repräsentieren.

     

One-electron reduction potential for oxygen- and sulfur-centered organic radicals in protic and aprotic solvents

We estimated one-electron reduction potentials of redox-active organic molecules for a spectrum of eight different functional groups (phenoxyl, p-benzoquinone, phenylthiyl, p-benzodithiyl, carboxyl, benzoyloxyl, carbthiyl, and benzoylthiyl) in protic (water) and aprotic (acetonitrile, N,N-dimethylacetamide) solvents. Electron affinities (EA) were evaluated in a vacuum with high level quantum chemical methods using Gaussian3-MP2 (G3MP2) and Becke 3 Lee, Yang, and Parr functional B3LYP with aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. To evaluate one-electron redox potentials, gas-phase free energies were combined with solvation energies obtained in a two-step computational approach. First, atomic partial charges were determined in a vacuum by the quantum chemical method B3LYP/6-31G(d,p). Second, solvation energies were determined, solving the Poisson equation with these atomic partial charges. Redox potentials computed this way, compared to experimental data for the 21 considered organic compounds in different solvents, yielded overall root-mean-square deviations of 0.058 and 0.131 V using G3MP2 or B3LYP to compute electronic energies, respectively, while B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) was used to compute solvation energies.     

A triple diene-transmissive Diels-Alder strategy to build the quassinoid framework

[chemical reaction: see text]. An advanced intermediate to the highly oxygenated triterpene quassinoids was prepared in 14 steps from tetrahydrofuran. The key steps are three diene-transmissive Diels-Alder cycloadditions. Several features of this synthesis are noteworthy, including a successful Mitsunobu reaction on an allenylic alcohol, a rare [4 + 2] cycloaddition involving an enethiol ether dienophile, and complete control over all 10 chiral centers created.     

Molecular recognition of guanosine and 2-acetylaminofluorene-modified guanosine. A comparative study

Abstract

The ability of an abiotic receptor, 7-acetylamino-2-methyl–1,8-naphthyridine, to bind to guanosine was analysed by a combination of NMR determinations and molecular modeling studies. The results indicate that this receptor simulates the base-pairing properties of cytidine in its Watson-Crick interaction with guanosine. Binding of the same receptor to N-(guanosin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene, the guanosine adduct containing the carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene, was found to occur in a similar manner. The calculated binding energies show that the molecular recognition of the adduct is lower than that of the unmodified guanosine. The theoretical studies suggest that the predominance of an abnormal low energy syn conformation for the adduct is the main structural feature accounting for the observed decrease of the host-guest interaction.     

Discrete Harmonic Functions in the Three-Quarter Plane

Potential Analysis - In this article we are interested in finding positive discrete harmonic functions with Dirichlet conditions in three quadrants. Whereas planar lattice (random) walks in the...