The first kinetic evidence for acid catalysis in a monocyclic rearrangement of heterocycles: conversion of the Z-phenylhydrazone of 5-amino-3-benzoyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole into N,5-diphenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazol-4-ylurea

The title reaction has been studied in dioxane/water in a large (0.1-14.9) pS+ range, evidencing, together with an uncatalyzed process at intermediate (3.5-8.0) pS+ values, the occurrence of a catalyzed pathway both in the acidic (pS+ 0.1-3.5) and in the basic region (pS+ 8.0-14.9): specific-acid catalysis and general-base catalysis, respectively, have been found to take place by means of kinetic investigations at different buffer concentrations. Mechanisms for the three pathways have been advanced on the grounds of structural features. In a comparison with previous data particular attention has been paid to the acid-catalyzed pathway, herein observed for the first time in an azole-to-azole interconversion. The mechanistic hypotheses seem well supported by ab initio calculations.     

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PRESUMED PHOTORECEPTOR PROTEIN OF Blepharisma japonicum

Abstract— Photosensory responses in the ciliated protozoan Blepharisma japonicum are mediated by a hypericin-like chromophore, blepharismin, localized in granules distributed under the cell membrane. A blepharismin-binding protein, with an apparcnt molecular weight ranging between 35 and 38 kDa, has been isolated by means of column separations and preparative isoelectric focusing and characterized by means of gel electrophoresis, analytic isoelectric focusing as well as absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Three-dimensional image fusion by use of multiwavelength digital holography

We present three-dimensional (3D) image fusion by use of digital holography. We demonstrate experimentally that, through the image fusion technique with multiresolution wavelet decomposition, it is possible to increase the details and contrast of 3D reconstructed images obtained by multiwavelength digital holography. Although there is substantial activity in the fields of image fusion and holography, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of 3D image fusion by use of digital holography.     

A simple geometrical model for emulsifier free polymer colloid formation

In this paper we propose a simple model for the formation of monodisperse polymer colloids, which provides a convenient set of synthetic parameters for given bead diameters. We provide experimental data in support of this model.     

Scattering of a Light Particle by a System of Harmonic Oscillators

We discuss the asymptotic wave function of a quantum system in ?³ composed by heavy and light particles, in the case where the light particles are in scattering states and no interaction is assumed among particles of the same kind. We first review a recent result concerning the case of K heavy and N light particles, where the one-particle potential acting on each heavy particle decays at infinity. Then we consider the case of one light particle interacting with a system of harmonic oscillators and prove the same kind of result following, with some modification, the proof of the previous case. A possible application to the analysis of the scattering of a light particle from condensed matter is also outlined.     

Mixed needlets

The construction of needlet-type wavelets on sections of the spin line bundles over the sphere has been recently addressed in Geller and Marinucci (2008) [14], and Geller et al. (2008, 2009) [12] and [13]. Here we focus on an alternative proposal for needlets on this spin line bundle, in which needlet coefficients arise from the usual, rather than the spin, spherical harmonics, as in the previous constructions. We label this system mixed needlets and investigate in full their properties, including localization, the exact tight frame characterization, reconstruction formula, decomposition of functional spaces, and asymptotic uncorrelation in the stochastic case. We outline astrophysical applications.     

Studies on decarboxylation reactions. Part 5 . Micellar catalysis and mixed solvents effects on the decarboxylation of some N-alkyl- or N-aryl-substituted 5-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-carboxylic acids

The effect of micelles and mixed solvents on the decarboxylation of some N-alkyl- or N-aryl-substituted 5-amino-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-carboxylic acids has been studied. The data support the unimolecular decarboxylation mechanism proposed by us. Moreover, they show that mixed solvents and micelles have different effects on reactivity of the amino acids under study.     

Evaluation of insurance products with guarantee in incomplete markets

Life insurance products are usually equipped with minimum guarantee and bonus provision options. The pricing of such claims is of vital importance for the insurance industry. Risk management, strategic asset allocation, and product design depend on the correct evaluation of the written options. Also regulators are interested in such issues since they have to be aware of the possible scenarios that the overall industry will face. Pricing techniques based on the Black & Scholes paradigm are often used, however, the hypotheses underneath this model are rarely met.To overcome Black & Scholes limitations, we develop a stochastic programming model to determine the fair price of the minimum guarantee and bonus provision options. We show that such a model covers the most relevant sources of incompleteness accounted in the financial and insurance literature. We provide extensive empirical analyses to highlight the effect of incompleteness on the fair value of the option, and show how the whole framework can be used as a valuable normative tool for insurance companies and regulators.