Predictivistic characterizations of multivariate student-t models

De Finetti style theorems characterize models (predictive distributions) as mixtures of the likelihood function and the prior distribution, beginning from some judgment of invariance about observable quantities. The likelihood function generally has its functional form identified from invariance assumptions only. However, we need additional conditions on observable quantities (typically, assumptions on conditional expectations) to identify the prior distribution. In this paper, we consider some well-known invariance assumptions and establish additional conditions on observable quantities in order to obtain a predictivistic characterization of the multivariate and matrix-variate Student-t distributions as well as for the Student-t linear model. As a byproduct, a characterization for the Pearson type II distribution is provided.     

Synthesis, characterization and pharmacological evaluation of 1-(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl)-5-methylindolin-2-one: a new anti-inflammatory compound with reduced gastric ulceration properties

The new compound 1-(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl)-5-methylindolin-2-one (1), designed using the prodrug approach, was easily obtained in 85% yield and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy. The lactam 1 showed anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity comparable to that of the COX-2 inhibitor lumiracoxib, without gastro-ulceration effects. Stability studies demonstrated that the lactam function was stable and did not hydrolyze in pH 1.2 or 7.4. Furthermore, using a thioglycollate-induced peritonitis model, compound 1 was shown to inhibit cell migration by 50.4%, while lumiracoxib inhibited it by 18%. This compound represents a new non-ulcerogenic prototype for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.     

Ion pairs of crystal violet in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate reverse micelles

The interfacial localization and the ion pair formation of the positively charged dye crystal violet (CV) in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate reverse micelles (AOT RMs) were studied by several structural and spectroscopic techniques and by quantum chemical calculations. The size and shape of the AOT RMs in the presence of CV were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering, showing that CV does not significantly change the RM structure. CV localization as a function of the water to surfactant molar ratio (w(0)) was characterized by H(1) and (13)C NMR, indicating the close proximity of CV to the sulfosuccinate group of AOT at small and large w(0) values. These results were confirmed by calculation of magnetic shielding constants using the gauge-independent atomic orbital method with the HF/6-31G(d) basis set. Two different types of ion pairs between AOT and CV, i.e., contact ion pair (CIPs) and solvent-separated ion pair (SSIPs), were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations using the semiempirical ZINDO-CI method. In nonpolar isotropic solvents CIPs are formed with an association constant (K(ASSOC)) of 2 x 10(4) mol(-1) L in isooctane and 750 mol(-1) L in chloroform. In AOT RMs at low w(0), CV-AOT CIPs are also formed. By increasing w(0), there is a sharp decrease in the CIP association free energy, and SSIPs are formed. (CV(+))(H(2)O)(AOT(-)) SSIPs are stable in the AOT RM up to the largest w(0) tested (w(0) = 33).     

Detailed 1H and 13C NMR structural assignment of three biologically active lignan lactones

In this paper we present a complete 1H and 13C NMR spectral analysis of three lignan lactones (methylpluviatolide, dimethylmatairesinol and hinokinin) by the use of techniques such as COSY, HMQC, HMBC and J-resolved. Complete assignment and all homonuclear hydrogen coupling constant measurements were performed, providing enough data also to the confirmation of the relative stereochemistry.     

Photochemically generated stable cation radical of phenothiazine aggregates in mildly acid buffered solutions

This work characterizes, for the first time, the photochemical behavior of the antipsychotic drugs thioridazine (TR), trifluoperazine (TFP), and fluphenazine (FP) influenced by the aggregation state of the molecules. Samples of monomeric and aggregated forms of phenothiazines were submitted to 20 min of irradiation at 254 nm for intervals of 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 days. In high phenothiazine concentrations, the irradiation led to the appearance of absorbance bands in the visible region peaking at 633 nm for TR and 509 nm for FP and TFP. In the dark, at room temperature and at 4 degrees C, these bands disappeared, after approximately 15 and approximately 60 min, respectively, but reappeared after a new irradiation session. These visible bands were assigned to stable cation radicals that were characterized by direct EPR measurements and by flash photolysis. Photogenerated stable cation radicals in the phenothiazine aggregates at room temperature are formed probably due to the stacking of the thiazine phenyl moieties. For the monomeric forms of phenothiazines, the spectral changes observed during the irradiation suggested the formation of sulfoxide and hydroxylated derivates. Oxidized derivates were detected by mass spectrometry of the aggregated forms of phenothiazines (>100 microM) only in the samples irradiated for more than 20 days. In contrast, monomeric phenothiazines were totally converted to the oxidized forms after 20 min of irradiation. Surface tension measurements of phenothiazines revealed that, in concentrations above 100 microM, the drugs formed aggregates. In the case of TR, small-angle X-ray scattering measurements indicated that this compound forms large lamellar-like aggregates in aqueous solutions.     

Small-angle X-ray scattering and electron paramagnetic resonance study of the interaction of bovine serum albumin with ionic surfactants

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques have been used to monitor the interaction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with ionic surfactants such as anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), zwitterionic N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonium-1-propane sulfonate (HPS), and cationic cethyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) at pH 7.0. The SAXS results have shown that in the presence of 5 mM SDS and HPS the radius of gyration (Rg) almost does not change as compared to the BSA free-surfactant solution; its value is ca. 30 Angstroms. In the presence of 5 mM CTAC the SAXS data indicate the presence of a particle with a Rg of at least 63 Angstroms, suggesting that in this case, a kind of protein aggregation takes place. In the presence of SDS and HPS surfactants at concentrations above 10 mM, a characteristic broad peak in the region of 0.12-0.18 Angstroms(-1) indicates the presence of micelle-like aggregates in solution. The SAXS curves are consistent with the "pearl necklace" model, where micelle-like aggregates are randomly distributed around the polypeptide chain. EPR results using 5-DSA and 16-DSA spin labels show that in the presence of BSA the EPR spectra are composed of two label populations, one contacting the protein and a second one due to label localization in the micelles. Evidence is also obtained for a competition of the surfactants with the spin labels for the high-affinity binding sites of the stearic acid spin labels as monitored by changes in the fractions of the two label populations as the surfactant concentration is increased. The effect of SDS seems to be stronger in the sense that increased SDS concentration leads to a complete transfer of spin labels from close protein contact sites to micelles, while for HPS, a significant immobilization of probe apparently remains even at higher surfactant concentrations. These two techniques are quite useful since SAXS monitors the overall properties of the scattering particle, while EPR gives information on the dynamics inside this particle and associated with label localization and motion.     

Surfactant--polymer aggregates formed by sodium dodecyl sulfate, poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone), and poly(ethylene glycol)

The interaction of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in aqueous solution with poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (M(w) = 55,000 g/mol) in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (M(w) = 8000 g/mol) is investigated by electrical conductivity, zeta potential measurements, viscosity measurements, fluorescence spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results indicate that SDS-polymer interaction occurs at low surfactant concentration, and its critical aggregation concentration is fairly dependent on polymer composition. The polymer-supported micelles have average aggregation numbers dependent on surfactant concentration, are highly dissociated when compared with aqueous SDS micelles, and have zeta potentials that increase linearly with the fraction of PVP at constant SDS concentration. The analysis of the SAXS measurements indicated that the PVP/PEG/SDS system forms surface-charged aggregates of a cylindrical shape with an anisometry (length to cross-section dimension ratio) of about 3.0.     

Porphyrin effects on zwitterionic HPS micelles as investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)

In this work, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies on the interaction of three anionic mesotetrakis (4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrins, TPPS4, FeTPPS4, and ZnTPPS4, at concentrations in the 2-10 mM range, with micelles of the zwitterionic surfactant 3-(N-hexadecyl-N,N-dimethylammonium) propane sulfonate (HPS, 30 mM) at pH 4.0 and 9.0 are reported. The SAXS results demonstrate that, upon addition of all species of porphyrins, the HPS micelle of prolate shape reduces its axial ratio from 1.8 +/- 0.2 (in the absence of porphyrin) to 1.5 +/- 0.1. Such an effect is accompanied by a shrinking of the paraffinic shortest semiaxis from 22.5 +/- 0.5 A to 18.0 +/- 0.2 A. This shows that the micellar hydrophobic core is affected by porphyrin incorporation, independent of the type of porphyrin and pH. Concurrently, EPR results demonstrate an increase in the micellar packing as noticed from the increase in motional restriction for both nitroxides. Furthermore, increase of the porphyrin concentration induces the appearance of a repulsive interference function over the SAXS curve of zwitterionic micelles, which is typical of an interaction between surface-charged micelles. Such a finding gives strong evidence that the negatively charged porphyrin molecule must accommodate in the HPS micelle dipole layer close to the inner positive charges (near the hydrophobic core), inducing a surface charge (probably a negative one associated with the HPS sulfonate external groups) in the original zwitterionic (overall neutral) micelle. Such a porphyrin location is favored by both electrostatic and hydrophobic contributions, giving rise to binding constant values that are quite large compared to the binding of cationic drugs to HPS micelles (Caetano, W.; Barbosa, L. R. S.; Itri, R.; Tabak, M. J. Coll. Int. Sci. 2003, 260, 414).