Estimating the parametric component of nonlinear partial spline model

Consider a nonlinear partial spline model . This article studies the estimation problem of when g₀ is approximated by some graduating function. Some asymptotic results for are derived. In particular, it is shown that can be estimated with the usual parametric convergence rate without undersmoothing g₀.     

Synthesis,properties, and field effect transistor characteristics of new thiophene‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐thiophene‐based conjugated polymers

Four new conjugated copolymers based on the moiety of bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐6,7‐diheptyl‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline (BTHTQ) were synthesized and characterized, including poly(6,7‐diheptyl‐4,9‐bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline) (PBTHTQ), poly‐(6,7‐diheptyl‐4,9‐bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo‐[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐alt‐2,5‐thiophene) (PTTHTQ), poly(6,7‐diheptyl‐4,9‐bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl) [1,2,5]‐thiadiazolo‐[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐alt‐9,9‐dioctyl‐2,7‐fluore‐ne) (PFBTHTQ), and poly(6,7‐diheptyl‐4,9‐bis(4‐hexylthiophen‐2‐yl)‐[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4‐g]quinoxaline‐alt‐1,4‐bis(decyloxy)phenylene) (PPBTHTQ). The λ_max of PBTHTQ, PTTHTQ, PFBTHTQ, and PPBTHTP thin films was shown at 780, 876, 734, and 710 nm, respectively, with the corresponding optical band gaps (E) of 1.31, 1.05, 1.40, and 1.43 eV. The relatively small band gaps of the synthesized polymers suggested the significance of intramolecular charge transfer between the donor and TQ moiety. The estimated hole mobilities of PBTHTQ, PTTHTQ, and PFBTHTQ‐based field effect transistor devices using CHCl₃ solvent were 8.5 × 10^?5, 8.5 × 10^?4, and 2.8 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively, but significantly enhanced to 1.6 × 10^?4, 3.8 × 10^?3, and 1.5 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 using high boiling point solvent of chlorobenzene (CB). The higher hole mobility of PTTHTQ than the other two copolymers was attributed from its smaller band gap or ordered morphology [wormlike (chloroform) or needle‐like (CB)]. The characteristics of small band gap and high mobility suggest the potential applications of the BTHTQ‐based conjugated copolymers in electronic and optoelectronic devices. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6305–6316, 2008     

Formation of Fe2+-phenanthroline complexes in the volume of hydrogel

The interaction of weakly crosslinked gels of poly(methacrylic acid) and a nonionic gel based on N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole with Fe²⁺ ions in aqueous solutions has been studied. A comparative study of the conformational state and of the absorption ability of the gels for their interaction with iron and ferroin ions has been performed. It has been shown that Fe²⁺ ions are efficiently absorbed by both poly(methacrylic acid) gels and the gels based on N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole. In this case, the poly(methacrylic acid) gels undergo contraction, while nonionic gels derived from N-vinylcaprolactam and N-vinylimidazole experience swelling. During the interaction of gels containing immobilized Fe²⁺ ions with phenanthroline, the efficient absorption of the complexon and the formation of Fe²⁺-phenanthroline complexes in the gel volume take place, thus inducing the contraction of gels. The interaction of poly(methacrylic acid) gels with ferroin is accompanied by the absorption of the complex, the formation of the tertiary complexes, and the collapse of the gel. The efficiency of formation of tertiary complexes in the gel volume is independent of their preparation procedure.     

Identification of deletion and duplication genotypes of the PMP22 gene using PCR-RFLP, competitive multiplex PCR, and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification: a comparison

We evaluated the efficacy of PCR-RFLP, competitive multiplex PCR, and a commercially available system of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for the determination of deletion and duplication genotypes of the PMP22 gene. We compared the methods for efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity. We determined the gene dosage of the PMP22 gene via PCR-RFLP, competitive multiplex PCR, and MLPA. To demonstrate the sensitivity and accuracy of these three methods, a total of 185 samples from 42 patients with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP), 57 patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A), and 86 unaffected individuals, were analyzed. Molecular diagnosis by PCR-RFLP was performed on all 185 samples; 24 HNPP deletions and 33 CMT1A duplications were identified. In contrast, 25 HNPP deletions and 38 CMT1A duplications were identified correctly using competitive multiplex PCR and MLPA. Six samples were incorrectly identified by PCR-RFLP (one HNPP deletion and five CMT1A duplications). Competitive multiplex PCR and MLPA demonstrated reliability and relative speed compared to PCR-RFLP; they were superior to PCR-RFLP for gene dosage quantification. Multiplex PCR and MLPA should be the methods of choice for detection of deletion and duplication genotypes in molecular genetic diagnoses.     

Cis-->trans, trans-->cis isomerizations and N-O bond dissociation of nitrous acid (HONO) on an ab initio potential surface obtained by novelty sampling and feed-forward neural network fitting

The isomerization and dissociation dynamics of HONO are investigated on an ab initio potential surface obtained by fitting the results of electronic structure calculations at 21 584 configurations by using previously described novelty sampling and feed-forward neural network (NN) methods. The electronic structure calculations are executed by using GAUSSIAN 98 with a 6-311G(d) basis set at the MP4(SDQ) level of accuracy. The average absolute error of the NN fits varies from 0.012 eV (1.22 kJ mol(-1)) to 0.017 eV (1.64 kJ mol(-1)). The average computation time for a HONO trajectory using a single NN surface is approximately 4.8 s. These computation times compare very favorably with those required by other methods primarily because the NN fitting needs to be executed only one time rather than at every integration point. If the average result obtained from a committee of NNs is employed at each point rather than a single NN, increased fitting accuracy can be achieved at the expense of increased computational requirements. In the present investigation, we find that a committee comprising five NN potentials reduces the average absolute interpolation error to 0.0111 eV (1.07 kJ mol(-1)). Cis-trans isomerization rates with total energy of 1.70 eV (including zero point energy) have been computed for a variety of different initial distributions of the internal energy. In contrast to results previously reported by using an empirical potential, where cis-->trans to trans-->cis rate coefficient ratios at 1.70 eV total energy were found to lie in the range of 2.0-12.9 depending on the vibration mode excited, these ratios on the ab initio NN potential lie in the range of 0.63-1.94. It is suggested that this result is a reflection of much larger intramode coupling terms present in the ab initio potential surface. A direct consequence of this increased coupling is a significant decrease in the mode specific rate enhancement when compared to results obtained by using empirical surfaces. All isomerizations are found to be first order in accordance with the results reported by using empirical potentials. The dissociation rate to NO+OH has been investigated at internal HONO energies of 3.10 and 3.30 eV for different distributions of this energy among the six vibrational modes of HONO. These dissociations are also found to be first order. The computed dissociation rate coefficients exhibit only modest mode specific rate enhancement that is significantly smaller than that obtained on an empirical surface because of the much larger mode couplings present on the ab initio surface.     

Using molecular iodine in direct oxidative condensation of aldoses with diamines: an improved synthesis of aldo-benzimidazoles and aldo-naphthimidazoles for carbohydrate analysis

A practical method has been developed for conversion of unprotected and unmodified aldoses to aldo-benzimidazoles and aldo-naphthimidazoles. Using iodine as an oxidant or promoter in acetic acid solution, a series of mono-, di-, and trialdoses, including those containing carboxyl and acetamido groups, undergo an oxidative condensation reaction with o-phenylenediamine or 2,3-naphthalenediamine at room temperature to give the aldo-benzimidazole and aldo-naphthimidazole products in high yields. No cleavage of the glycosidic bond occurs under such mild reaction conditions. The composition analysis of saccharides is realized by the HPLC analysis of the fluorescent naphthimidazole derivatives.     

Electrochemistry and electrogenerated chemiluminescence of 3,6-di(spirobifluorene)-N-phenylcarbazole

We report here the electrochemistry, luminescence, and electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) of 3,6-dispirobifluorene-N-phenylcarbazole (DSBFNPC). DSBFNPC contains two spirobifluorene groups covalently attached to the N-phenylcarbazole core. The optimized geometry as determined from semiempirical MNDO calculations shows that the phenyl group is twisted 89 degrees from the plane of central carbazole, indicating a lack of electron delocalization between these groups. However, the two fluorene rings of each spirobifluorene group are twisted 58 degrees relative to each other and two spirobifluorene groups are twisted 64 degrees from the N-phenylcarbazole ring, suggesting some charge delocalization among these groups. The cyclic voltammetry of this compound shows two reversible oxidation waves (assigned to the formation of the cation and dication) and a two-electron reduction wave that becomes reversible at higher scan rates (assigned to formation of anion). Digital simulations were carried out to obtain details of the electrochemical processes, and electrochemical behavior was compared to that of phenylcarbazole (PC). Upon cycling between the oxidation and reduction waves, ECL is produced by radical ion annihilation. The photophysical properties of DSBFNPC show a strong resemblance to the parent compound, PC, and the ECL spectrum produced via radical ion annihilation shows good agreement with the fluorescence emission spectrum of DSBFNPC.     

TBAF‐Mediated Dimerization Reaction of β,γ‐Unsaturated Arylketones

A simple and high‐yield method for the synthesis of several 1,5‐diaryl‐1,5‐dicarbonyl compounds has been established starting from TBAF‐mediated isomerization and dimerization reaction of β,γ‐unsaturated arylketones (allyl arylketones) with mono‐, di‐, and tri‐methoxy groups, which is derived from allylation of commercially available different benzaldehydes and followed by oxidation of the resulting secondary alcohols.     

Metal‐Sensitive Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structural Characterization of a Mixed‐Metal and Porous Coordination Polymer Containing 2,3‐Pyridinedicarboxylate

The hydrothermal reaction of 2,3‐pyridinedicarboxylic acid (2,3‐H₂pda) with a mixture of Cd(NO₃)₂ and Ni(NO₃)₂ afforded a coordination polymer, [CdNi(2,3‐pda)₂(H₂O)₃]_∞ ( 1 ); in contrast, that with a mixture of Cd(NO₃)₂ and Zn(NO₃)₂ surprisingly produced a discrete molecule, trans‐[Cd(3‐pa)₂(H₂O)₄] ( 2 ) (3‐pa^? = 3‐pyridinecarboxylate). Since a direct reaction between a single metal salt, Cd(NO₃)₂ or Zn(NO₃)₂, and 3‐pyridinecarboxylic acid (3‐Hpa) under similar hydrothermal conditions yielded different coordination polymers containing 3‐pa^?, it appears that the apparently thermal decarboxylation from ligated 2,3‐pda^2? to 3‐pa^? occurs after complexation of both metal cations, Cd(II) and Zn(II). A new coordination mode, formed for 2,3‐pda^2? in structure 1 , appears to help formation of microporous channels by piling up the observed 2D hydrogen‐bonded heteropolynuclear layers. Each channel apparently consists of two interpenetrating 6³ Cd(II) and Ni(II) nets.     

Purification of antibody heteropolymers using hydrophobic interaction chromatography

A heteropolymer (HP) is a unique dual antibody conjugate composed of specific, chemically cross-linked monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this study we have demonstrated that HPs can be purified using hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC). Two propyl HIC resins; [PolyPropyl A and EMD Fractogel Propyl (S)] were evaluated in this study. Phosphate buffers, pH 6.5 containing ammonium sulfate or sodium sulfate were used to bind the HP to the column. A descending sulfate gradient or step gradient was used to elute the bound HP species from the column. The HP reaction mixture typically contains multiple conjugated HP species, as well as unreacted monomer mAbs. Conjugated HP product was successfully separated from unreacted antibody monomers with both propyl resins using buffers with ammonium sulfate. There was no monomer separation from HP using buffers with sodium sulfate. The purification processes, presented in this study allows the non-cross-linked antibodies to pass through the column without being bound to the resin, while the cross-linked antibodies (the HP product) bound to the column were subsequently eluted by decreasing the ammonium sulfate concentration in the running buffer. HP product was efficiently separated from free mAbs using Propyl HIC resins at both analytical and preparative scales.