Precision of degree of polarization estimation in the presence of additive Gaussian detector noise

We address the problem of degree of polarization (DOP) estimation in images limited by additive Gaussian detector noise. We derive and analyze the probability density function (PDF) of the pixelwise DOP estimate, which is shown to have significantly different statistical properties than when noise is Gamma distributed (speckle). We then determine the Cramer-Rao Lower Bound and the maximum likelihood estimator of the DOP. We deduce from this study practical solutions for characterizing and reducing the noise in these images.     

Facile One‐Pot Three‐Component Synthesis of Functionalized Pyridylfuran‐2‐amines

The reactive 1 : 1 zwitterionic intermediates generated in situ from the reaction between a series of isocyanides and diaroylacetylenes were trapped by pyridine carbaldehydes to yield highly functionalized 5‐pyridylfuran‐2‐amines in good yields (82–93%).     

An NMR, IR and theoretical investigation of (1)H chemical shifts and hydrogen bonding in phenols

The change in (1)H NMR chemical shifts upon hydrogen bonding was investigated using both experimental and theoretical methods. The (1)H NMR spectra of a number of phenols were recorded in CDCl(3) and DMSO solvents. For phenol, 2- and 4-cyanophenol and 2-nitrophenol the OH chemical shifts were measured as a function of concentration in CDCl(3). The plots were all linear with concentration, the gradients varying from 0.940 (phenol) to 7.85 (4-cyanophenol) ppm/M because of competing inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Ab initio calculations of a model acetone/phenol system showed that the OH shielding was linear with the H...O=C distance (R) for R < 2.1 A with a shielding coefficient of - 7.8 ppm/A and proportional to cos(2)phi where phi is the H...O=C--C dihedral angle. Other geometrical parameters had little effect. It was also found that the nuclear shielding profile is unrelated to the hydrogen bonding energy profile. The dependence of the OH chemical shift on the pi density on the oxygen atom was determined as ca 40 ppm/pi electron. This factor is similar to that for NH but four times the value for sp(2) hybridized carbon atoms. The introduction of these effects into the CHARGE programme allowed the calculation of the (1)H chemical shifts of the compounds studied. The CHARGE calculations were compared with those from the ACD database and from GIAO calculations. The CHARGE calculations were more accurate than other calculations both when all the shifts were considered and also when the OH shifts were excluded. The calculations from the ACD and GIAO approaches were reasonable when the OH shifts were excluded but not as good when all the shifts were considered. The poor treatment of the OH shifts in the GIAO calculations is very likely due to the lack of explicit solvent effects in these calculations.     

Design of a fast convergent backpropagation algorithm based on optimal control theory

The main contribution of this paper is using optimal control theory for improving the convergence rate of backpropagation algorithm. In the proposed approach, the learning algorithm of backpropagation is modeled as a minimum time control problem in which the step-size of its learning factor is considered as the input of this model. In contrast to the traditional backpropagation, learning algorithms which select the step-size by trial and error, it is selected adaptively based on optimal control criterion. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is evaluated in two simulations: XOR and 3-bit parity. In both simulation examples, the proposed algorithm outperforms well in speed and the ability to escape from local minima.     

Ultramark 1621 as a reference compound for positive and negative ion fast-atom bombardment high-resolution mass spectrometry

Ultramark 1621, a commercially available mixture of fluorinated phosphazines, was found to bea a useful calibration compound for negative and positive ion fast-atom bombardment (FAB) high-resolution mass spectrometry. Ultramark 1621 worked very well with the most widely used matrices such as glycerol, nitrobenzyl alcohol, and triethanolamine. The negative and positive ion FAB mass spectra of Ultramark include a series of intense peaks extending from 700 to 1900 u.     

In Silico and Experimental Characterization of Chimeric Bacillus thermocatenulatus Lipase with the Complete Conserved Pentapeptide of Candida rugosa Lipase

Lipases are one of the highest value commercial enzymes as they have broad applications in detergent, food, pharmaceutical, and dairy industries. To provide chimeric Bacillus thermocatenulatus lipase (BTL2), the completely conserved pentapeptide (¹¹²Ala-His-Ser-Gln-Gly¹¹⁶) was replaced with similar sequences (²⁰⁷Gly-Glu-Ser-Ala-Gly²¹¹) of Candida rugosa lipase (CLR) at the nucleophilic elbow region. For this purpose, three mutations including A112G, H113E, and Q115A were inserted in the conserved pentapeptide sequence of btl2 gene. Based on the crystal structures of 2W22, the best structure of opened form of the chimeric lipases were garnered using the MODELLER v9.10 software. The native and chimeric lipases were docked to a set of ligands, and a trial version of Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD) software was used to obtain the energy values. Docking results confirmed chimeric lipase to be better than the native lipase. Following the in silico study, cloning experiments were conducted and expression of native and chimeric btl2 gene in Pichia pastoris was performed. The native and chimeric lipases were purified, and the effect of these mutations on characteristics of chimeric lipase studied and then compared with those of native lipase. Chimeric lipase exhibited 1.6-fold higher activity than the native lipase at 55 °C. The highest percentage of both lipases activity was observed at 60 °C and pH of 8.0. The ion Ca²⁺ slightly inhibited the activity of both lipases, whereas the organic solvent enhanced the lipase stability of chimeric lipase as compared with the native lipase. According to the results, the presence of two glycine residues at the conserved pentapeptide region of this chimeric lipase (¹¹² Gly-Glu-Ser-Ala-Gly ¹¹⁶) may increase the flexibility of the nucleophilic elbow region and affect the enzyme activity level.     

Intramolecular hydrogen bonding in chemoselective synthesized 2-substituted pyrrole stable phosphorus ylide: GIAO, AIM, and NBO approaches

The chemoselectivity of geometrically ylide compounds is often hard to assign from experimental techniques, particular system with intramolecular hydrogen bonding (IHB) are even more challenging. Herein, theoretical calculations were performed to investigate whether theoretical results would provide consistent evidence for the existence of IHB to confirm experimental data and to evaluate strength of the N–H···O IHB from geometrical synthesized 2-substituted pyrrole stable phosphorus ylide (dimethyl 2-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-3-(triphenylphosphoranylidene) butanedioate in a single chemoselective compound. Topological parameters at the bond critical points (BCP) of intramolecular hydrogen bonds from Bader’s atoms in molecules (AIM) theory and Winhold’s natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations were analyzed at the B3LYP/6-311++g** level in details. A series of gage-including atomic orbital chemical shift (GIAO c.s.) calculations at the HF and DFT levels of theory were carried out to assign the ¹H NMR chemical shifts. The best prediction of the experimental ¹H NMR values was obtained at the mPW1PW91 levels using the 6-31G** basis set. Theoretical results, in agreement with the experimental data, were confirmed the N–H···O IHB was caused the deshielding of the proton to lower field. The barriers in double bond and single bond rotation were theoretically estimated in detailed and the AIM and NPA approaches were confirmed the loss of charge of the hydrogen atom involving in intramolecular N–H···O hydrogen bonding. The geometrical and topological parameters from AIM and NBO analyses were indicated the medium N–H···O IHB.     

ALANINE/CHLOROCHROMIC ACID/SILICA GEL: AN EFFICIENT AND SELECTIVE REAGENT FOR THE OXIDATION OF ORGANIC FUNCTIONAL GROUPS

Alanine/chlorochromic acid/silica gel is a new and selective reagent for the efficient oxidation of sulfides, thiols, oximes, and alcohols. Oxidation of sulfides is solvent dependent. In chloroform at room temperature sulfoxides are formed as the major products, while in carbon tetrachloride or under solvent-free conditions solfones are produced in good-to-excellent yields.