Modelling the independent insurance agent's product evaluation strategy: An application of conjoint analysis

A major property-casualty insurance company had streamlined underwriting procedures and hoped to design a new commercial insurance package which would appeal to its independent agents. They hoped to do this by improving service times, premium and/or commission, but making these improvements would require the agents to fill out a new underwriting form. The research used conjoint analysis to determine for management the optimum levels of each of the factors to be employed in the new programme and the possible negative impact of the new underwriting form. Also discussed are issues relating to the use of conjoint analysis; in particular, the handling of large factorial designs and the aggregation of individual results.     

19-electron intermediates and cage-effects in the photochemical disproportionation of [CpW(CO)3]2 with Lewis bases

The role of 19-electron intermediates in the photochemical disproportionation of [CpW(CO)3]2 (Cp = C5H5) with Lewis bases (PR3; R = OMe, Bu, Ph) is investigated on the ultrafast time scale using femtosecond VIS-pump, IR-probe spectroscopy. Formation of a 19-electron (19e) species CpW(CO)3PR3*by coordination of PR3 with photogenerated 17-electron (17e) radicals CpW(CO)3* is directly observed, and equilibrium is established between the 17e radicals and the 19e intermediates favoring 19e intermediates in the order: Bu > OMe > Ph. Steric effects dominate the 17e/19e equilibrium when the cone-angle of the Lewis base exceeds a certain limiting value (between 132 degrees and 145 degrees ), but below this value electronic properties of the Lewis base control the 17e/19e dynamics. Disproportionation occurs in less than 200 picoseconds by electron transfer between a solvent caged 17e radical and 19e, highly reducing species. The rate and extent of ultrafast disproportionation depends on both the identity and concentration of the Lewis base. In low concentrations of PR3 (typically 1-2 M or less) or with Lewis bases whose equilibrium heavily favors 17e radicals (e.g., PPh3), disproportionation is rate-limited by breakdown of the solvent cage. Density functional theory calculations on vibrational frequencies and charge distributions of the various complexes support the experimental results.     

Synthesis and characterization of epoxy-functional polystyrene particles

Colloidal polystyrene particles with surface epoxy groups have been synthesized through surfactant-free emulsion copolymerization of styrene with glycidyl methacrylate; and through copolymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and methyl methacrylate as shells around existing polystyrene seed particles. We developed two titration methods to quantify the number of epoxy groups that survived the polymerization processes. The styrene-GMA copolymer particles were judged to be unsatisfactory as model colloidal materials due to their size polydispersity and unknown internal distribution of epoxy groups. The core-shell particles had high epoxy surface densities with at least 60% of the initial epoxy groups surviving the synthesis process. Transmission electron microscopy shows that the thickness of the epoxy-rich shell is less than expected based on the volume of monomers added, suggesting that some of the monomer forms water-soluble oligomers. Photon correlation spectroscopy measurements imply that the shell is swollen with water and consists of polymer configurations which extend out into solution. The morphological details vary consistently with the GMA content, and hence the hydrophilicity, of the shell polymer. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Anforderungen an die quantitative Auswertung von Disc-Elektrophoresen in der biochemischen Analytik

Zusammenfassung Die Vorteile der Disc-Elektrophorese als hochselektives Trennverfahren der biochemischen Analytik können durch photometrische Messungen für quantitative Aussagen genutzt werden. Es werden die meßtechnischen Voraussetzungen dargestellt, die erfüllt sein müssen, um alle Möglichkeiten dieser Methode ausschöpfen zu können. Ein entsprechendes Gerät für Messungen im Sichtbaren und Ultravioletten mit einer Ortsauflösung von besser als 50 m wird beschrieben. Die verbleibenden Einflußgrößen und Störfaktoren sind weitgehend präparativer Art, die durch gezielte Standardisierung der Arbeitsmethodik überwunden werden können.

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Requirements of the quantitative evaluation of disc-electrophoreses in biochemical analysis

By photometric measurements the advantages of disc electrophoresis as a highly selective separation method in biochemical analysis can be used for quantitative statements. The prerequisites of the measuring method are presented which must be met if the advantages of this method are to be fully utilized. An instrument for measurements in the visible light and UV with a point resolution of better than 50 m is described. The remaining parameters and disturbing influences le largely in the preparation and these can be eliminated by a consistent standardization of the methodologyi.

     

Zur Kinetik des Eindringens und der Verdrängung von Flüssigkeiten in Kapillaren

Zusammenfassung Im Laufe von Versuchen, die vonHaller angegebene Methode zur Messung der Benetzungsspannung auf wäßrige Lösungen oberflächenaktiver Stoffe anzuwenden und sie durch Hinzunahme einer Hilfsflüssigkeit auch im Fall vollständiger Benetzung der Kapillarenwand durch die Lösung brauchbar zu machen, ergaben sich neue, anschauliche Beobachtungen über die dynamische Veränderlichkeit der Oberflächen- und Grenzflächenspannung von Lösungen oberflächenaktiver Stoffe, sowie über den Einfluß dieses Effektes auf die Geschwindigkeit des Eindringens und der Verdrängung der wäßrigen Phase in Glaskapillaren. Ferner wurden neue Befunde und klarere Vorstellungen über die Benetzungs- und Umnetzungsspannung erhalten, insbesondere über ihre Kinetik und ihre Änderung bei wiederholter Umnetzung.     

Identification of Two Distinct Sites for Antagonist and Biased Agonist Binding to the Human Chemokine Receptor CXCR3

The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is a G protein‐coupled receptor that conveys extracellular signals into cells by changing its conformation upon ligand binding. We previously hypothesized that small‐molecule allosteric CXCR3‐agonists do not bind to the same allosteric binding pocket as 8‐azaquinazolinone‐based negative allosteric modulators. We have now performed molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulations with metadynamics enhanced sampling on the CXCR3 system to refine structures and binding modes and to predict the CXCR3‐binding affinities of the biased allosteric agonist FAUC1036 and the negative allosteric modulator RAMX3. We have identified two distinct binding sites; a “shallow” and a second “deeper” pocket to which the biased allosteric agonist FAUC1036 and negative allosteric modulator RAMX3 bind, respectively.