Asymptotic distribution of the nonparametric distribution estimator based on a martingale approach in doubly censored data

For analysis of time-to-event data with incomplete information beyond right-censoring, many generalizations of the inference of the distribution and regression model have been proposed. However, the development of martingale approaches in this area has not progressed greatly, while for right-censored data such an approach has spread widely to study the asymptotic properties of estimators and to derive regression diagnosis methods. In this paper, focusing on doubly censored data, we discuss a martingale approach for inference of the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator (NPMLE). We formulate a martingale structure of the NPMLE using a score function of the semiparametric profile likelihood. Finally, an expression of the asymptotic distribution of the NPMLE is derived more conveniently without depending on an infinite matrix expression as in previous research. A further useful point is that a variance-covariance formula of the NPMLE computable in a larger sample is obtained as an empirical version of the limit form presented here.     

Character Theoretical Aspects of Nilpotency Class

We investigate the notion of nilpotency class of a finite group from a character theoretical point of view.     

Chiral helicenoid diarylethene with large change in specific optical rotation by photochromism

A diarylethene possessing one [4]thiaheterohelicene and one benzothiophene, the latter with a chiral methoxymethoxyethyl group on its C-3 position, was proved to work as a switch of specific optical rotation at a wavelength at which both colored and colorless forms have no absorption in solution. The difference of the specific optical rotation was 1300 degrees between the open form and the photostationary state. The specific optical rotation of one of the isolated optically active major colored forms was -4680 degrees. The conversion to the colored form was 64%, and the diastereomeric excess of photocyclization was 47%.     

Ferrocenylpyrazole—A versatile building block for hydrogen-bonded organometallic supramolecular assemblies

The crystal architectures of 5-ferrocenylpyrazole (1) and its metal complexes were investigated. Compound 1 can form non-solvated and chloroform-solvated crystals. In both cases, 1 forms a zigzag one-dimensional architecture via NH?N hydrogen bonds. The hydrogen bond exhibits a twofold disorder, which was shown to be static by solid-state ¹³C NMR. In the solvated crystal, the chloroform is released at 415 K, associated with melting of the crystal. The reaction of 1 with metal salts provided metal-centered ferrocenyl clusters [Zn(NO₃)₂(1)₄] (4), [Co(NO₃)₂(1)₄] (5), [CoCl₂(1)₄] (6), [Zn(NCS)₂(1)₂] (7), cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(1)₂](PF₆)₂ (8), and trans-[Pt(NH₃)₂(1)₄](PF₆)₂ (9). In all of these complexes, 1 acts as a monodentate ligand. In 4, 5, and 7, the multinuclear units are joined via hydrogen bonds to form supramolecular chains. Two polymorphs were found for the crystals of 4. Both are composed of the same hydrogen-bonded chains, but their arrangements are different. 5-Ferrocenyl-1-tritylpyrazole (2) and 4-ferrocenyl-1-methylpyrazole (3) were also crystallographically characterized.     

Preparation and chiral recognition ability of crosslinked beads of polysaccharide derivatives

The spherical beads consisting of cellulose 3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate with partial hydroxyl groups were prepared to be used as chiral packing materials (CPMs) for HPLC. The beads were obtained without using macroporous silica gel, which is usually used as the support of the CPMs based on the polysaccharide derivatives. After the crosslinking in the bead with diisocyanates, such as 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 4,4'-dibenzyl diisocyanate (DBDI), tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), and m-xylylene diisocyanate (XDI), the obtained beads were packed into an HPLC column. As the content of the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose derivatives decreased, the obtained CPM exhibited a higher chiral recognition ability. The beads possessed a higher loading capacity than the CPM prepared by coating the cellulose derivative on silica gel. The crosslinked beads could be used with the eluent containing chloroform. The amylose derivative beads were also prepared as a CPM for chiral HPLC.     

Real-time detection of<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps"> L</Emphasis>-glutamate released from C6 glioma cells using a modified enzyme-luminescence method

There is an increasing interest in new strategies to detect neurotransmitters released from nerve cells in real time for brain science, drug assessment, and so on. Previously we reported real-time monitoring of dopamine release from nerve model cells by enzyme-catalyzed luminescence measurement with tyramine oxidase and peroxidase. In the present study, the system was modified with glutamate oxidase instead of tyramine oxidase to detect L-glutamate sensitively (≈ 10 nM) and rapidly with high temporal resolution (<1 s). We applied this modified method successfully to perform real-time monitoring of L-glutamate release from brain model cell (C6 glioma cell) using a luminescence plate reader upon stimulation with high concentration of KCl (>10 mM) or 5-hydroxytryptamine (>1 μM). The measurement solution was not toxic and therefore the L-glutamate release from the cell was measured by the second stimulation after exchanging the measurement solution. We conclude that the developed monitoring system is suitable for real-time detection of dynamic L-glutamate release from nerve cells in vitro and will be suitable for application in assessment of drugs acting on the nervous system. Figure Enzyme luminescence detection of L-glutamate released from cells     

Accelerated Silane Water‐Crosslinking Kinetics of Ethylene–Propylene Copolymer by Boron Trifluoride Complexes

The hydrolysis and overall water‐crosslinking kinetics of vinyltrimethoxysilane‐grafted ethylene–propylene copolymer (EPR‐g‐VTMS) containing boron trifluoride monoethylamine complex (BF₃–MEA), boron trifluoride methanol complex (BF₃–MeOH), or di‐n‐butyltin(II) dilaurate (DBTL) as a silane‐crosslinking catalyst was followed by ATR‐FT‐IR and measuring the gel fraction, respectively. Kinetics results by ATR‐FT‐IR technique showed that using BF₃–MEA provided much lower activation energy for the hydrolysis reactions than that of DBTL; however, BF₃–MeOH had little catalytic effect on both the hydrolysis and overall water‐crosslink reaction of EPR‐g‐VTMS. We propose that the actual catalytic effect of ethylamine molecule dissociated from BF₃–MEA results in the displacement of Si? OCH₃ groups via an S_N2‐Si mechanism.

     

Vertical and directional insertion of helical peptide into lipid bilayer membrane

A novel helical hexadecapeptide carrying a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain at the N terminal was synthesized. The N and C terminals of the compound are labeled with a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) group and an N-ethylcarbazolyl group (ECz), respectively. An octapeptide carrying the same groups and a hexadecapeptide without a PEG chain were also synthesized and used as control. A mixture of the peptide and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine was sonicated in a buffer to prepare the liposome. The orientation as well as direction of the helical segment in the lipid bilayer were analyzed by quenching experiments of the FITC and the ECz fluorescence. The results clearly indicated that the helical segment of the peptide penetrated into the lipid bilayer with vertical orientation in both the gel and liquid crystalline states of the lipid bilayer. Notably, the bulky N terminal was left behind in the outer aqueous phase of liposome, meaning that the C terminal of the peptide points to the inner aqueous phase of liposome. The insertion mode of the helical peptide into a bilayer membrane is therefore well-regulated in terms of the orientation and the directionality by designing the balance between the PEG chain and the helix length. The methodology presented here will initiate a way to construct artificial functional molecular systems that can induce vectorial transport phenomena as seen in biological systems.     

Phase transition of alkylsilane monolayers studied by temperature-dependent grazing incidence X-ray diffraction

The phase transition of organosilane monolayers on Si-wafer substrate surfaces prepared from octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) or docosyltrichlorosilane (DOTS) was investigated on the basis of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) at various temperatures. The OTS monolayer was prepared by a chemisorption method. The DOTS monolayer was prepared by a water-cast method (DOTS). The GIXD measurement clarified that the OTS monolayer also changed from hexagonal phase to amorphous state above a melting point of otadecyl groups. The GIXD measurements also clarified that the molecular aggregation state of the DOTS monolayer changes from an anisotropic phase to an isotropic phase with an increase in temperature. An estimated linear thermal expansion coefficient of the lattice lengths of a and b of the DOTS monolayer in the rectangular crystalline state assigned a similar value to those of bulk polyethylene with an orthorhombic crystalline lattice. The setting angle of the ab plane of the rectangular DOTS monolayer also showed similar behavior to that of the ab plane of bulk polyethylene.