Characterization based on conditional expectations of adjacent order statistics: A unified approach

In this paper, we show a unified approach to the problem of characterizing general distribution functions based on the conditional expectation between adjacent order statistics, or , where is a real, continuous and strictly monotonic function. We have the explicit expression of the distribution function from the above order mean function, and , and we give necessary and sufficient conditions so that any real function can be an order mean function. Our results generalize the results given for the discrete, absolutely continuous and continuous cases. Further, we show stability theorems for these characterizations.

     

MO study of the benzylperoxyl radical, an intermediate in atmospheric ozone formation

Unrestricted Hartree-Fock calculations have been carried out to study the benzylperoxyl radical, an intermediate atmospheric contaminant. For this purpose, quantum mechanical MP2//UHF ab initio calculations were performed by using 6-31G^** and 6-31 + G^** basis sets. Because no previous experimental nor theoretical data were available for benzylperoxyl, the results were compared with those of the smaller unsaturated peroxyl radicals, such as allylperoxyl. It is found that the calculated absolute minimal energy corresponds to a trans conformation in which the O---O bond is sticking away from the benzene ring. Benzylperoxyl is found also to exhibit an unusually O---O small bond order, which reflects the weakness of the bond, i.e. its ability to react with NO forming NO₂ and subsequently ozone. A peculiar MO diagram is obtained, with the unpaired MO deeply located in the “doubly” occupied MO space. This effect is also observed in allylperoxyl. Structural parameters, charges, spin densities and dipole moments are also reported.     

Reduction of dicarbonyl compounds on a DME: Part VI. A comparative study of the electrochemical behaviour of aromatic dicarbonyl compounds

Polarographic and voltammetric studies have been carried out on the reduction of benzyl and acetylbenzoyl in a basic medium.The effect of pH, reactant concentration, drop time and ethanol content on the polarographic and kinetic parameters is shown. The occurrence of adsorption phenomena is inferred from C - E curves. The degree of adsorption decreases as the ethanol content increases. Tafel slopes and reaction orders have been obtained at potentials corresponding to the foot of the wave. On the basis of these experimental data, reduction mechanisms are proposed in the zone where Tafel's law is obeyed.The results obtained here and those corresponding to the acidic medium, together with those concerning phenylglyoxal and phenylglyoxylic acid reported in the literature, are thoroughly discussed. A parallelism in the electrochemical behaviour of these compounds is made evident.     

Randomlyn-cyclic digraphs

A digraphD is randomlyn-cyclic (n≥3) if for each vertexv ofD, every (directed) path with initial vertexv and having length at mostn−1 can be extended to av−v (directed) cycle of lengthn. Several results related to and examples of randomlyn-cyclic digraphs are presented. Also, all randomlyn-cyclic digraphs forn=3, 4, and 5 are determined. Research supported by a Western Michigan University faculty research fellowship. Research supported in part by a College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate College research assistantship from Western Michigan University.     

Fluorescence properties of some schiff's bases derived from 3-hydroxypyridine-2-aldehyde and of their metal chelates Fluorimetric determination of manganese based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of these compounds with hydrogen peroxide

The fluorimetric properties of the oxime, thiosemicarbazone, azine and 2-pyridylhydrazone of 3-hydroxypyridine-2-aldehyde have been studied; quantum yields have been measured in ethanol-water and ethanol-dimethylformamide media. Two kinetic methods are described for the determination of trace amounts of manganese(II), based on its catalytic effect on the oxidation of the thiosemicarbazone and of the azine by hydrogen peroxide. The reactions are followed by measuring the rate of change of the fluorescence. The calibration graph is linear over the manganese range 5-50 ng ml with a precision of +/- 3.0% for the thiosemicarbazone, and 0.4-0.9 mug ml with a precision of +/-2.0% for the azine. Interferences by foreign ions have been investigated.     

Characterization of the Suzuki phase in doped alkali halides by Raman spectroscopy

The symmetries and frequencies of the Raman active modes of the Suzuki phase in the systems 6NaCl:CdCl₂; and 6NaCl:MnCl₂, have been calculated. Three of the four peaks allowed by symmetry (A_1g and 2F_g) agree to within 25% in position with the experimental values presented here and with other experimental results. The fourth peak (E_g) seems to be associated with a very soft mode, which explains why this peak has not been observed. The features of the Raman spectrum depend mainly upon the chlorine ions.     

Kinetics and isotype profile of antibody responses in rhesus macaques induced following vaccination with HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 L1-virus-like particles formulated with or without Merck aluminum adjuvant

BACKGROUND: Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most common sexually transmitted viruses. Infection of the cervical epithelium by HPVs can lead to the development of cervical cancer. Recent advances in vaccine research have shown that immunization with papillomavirus-like particles (VLPs) containing the major structural viral protein, L1 from HPV 16 can provide protection from the establishment of a chronic HPV 16 infection and related cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in baseline HPV 16 naive women. METHODS: To better understand the quantitative and qualitative effects of aluminum adjuvant on the immunogenic properties of an HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18L1 VLP vaccine, we used an HPV-specific, antibody isotyping assay and a competitive immunoassay that measures antibodies to neutralizing epitopes to profile sera from rhesus macaques immunized with the HPV L1 VLP vaccine formulated with or without aluminum adjuvant. RESULTS: Immunization with VLPs formulated with the aluminum adjuvant elicited a significantly stronger immune response with higher peak antibody titers both at four weeks post vaccination (12.7 to 41.9-fold higher) as well as in the persistent phase at week 52 (4.3 to 26.7-fold higher) than that of VLPs alone. Furthermore, the aluminum adjuvant formulated HPV VLP vaccine elicited a predominantly T helper type 2 response, with high levels of IgG1 and IgG4 and low levels of IgG2. The vaccine also elicited high levels of serum IgA, which may be important in providing mucosal immunity to impart protection in the anogenital tract. CONCLUSION: These results show that the HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 L1-VLP vaccine formulated with Merck aluminum adjuvant elicits a robust and durable immune response and holds promise as a vaccine for preventing cervical cancer.     

Level structure of 22Mg: implications for the 21Na(p,gamma)22Mg astrophysical reaction rate and for the 22Mg Mass

The level structure of (22)Mg has been studied with high-sensitivity gamma-ray spectroscopy techniques. A complete level scheme is derived incorporating all subthreshold states and all levels in the energy region relevant for novae burning. The excitation energy of the most important astrophysical resonance is measured with improved accuracy and found to differ from previous values. Combining the present result with a recent resonance energy measurement of this state leads to a derived (22)Mg mass excess of -400.5(13) keV.