A characterization of discrete unimodality with applications to variance upper bounds

Bertin and Theodorescu (1984,Statist. Probab. Lett.,2, 23–30) developed a characterization of discrete unimodality based on convexity properties of a discretization of distribution functions. We offer a new characterization of discrete unimodality based on convexity properties of a piecewise linear extension of distribution functions. This reliance on functional convexity, as in Khintchine's classic definition, leads to variance dilations and upper bounds on variance for a large class of discrete unimodal distributions. These bounds are compared to existing inequalities due to Muilwijk (1966,Sankhy, Ser. B,28, p. 183), Moors and Muilwijk (1971,Sankhy, Ser. B,33, 385–388), and Rayner (1975,Sankhy, Ser. B,37, 135–138), and are found to be generally tighter, thus illustrating the power of unimodality assumptions.     

Enhanced emission and its switching in fluorescent organic nanoparticles

A new class of organic nanoparticles (CN-MBE nanoparticles) with a mean diameter of ca. 30-40 nm, which exhibit a strongly enhanced fluorescence emission, were prepared by a simple reprecipitation method. CN-MBE (1-cyano-trans-1,2-bis-(4'-methylbiphenyl)ethylene) is very weakly fluorescent in solution, but the intensity is increased by almost 700 times in the nanoparticles. Enhanced emission in CN-MBE nanoparticles is attributed to the synergetic effect of intramolecular planarization and J-type aggregate formation (restricted excimer formation) in nanopaticles. On/off fluorescence switching for organic vapor was demonstrated with CN-MBE nanoparticles.     

Layered copper hydroxide n-alkylsulfonate salts: synthesis, characterization, and magnetic behaviors in relation to the basal spacing

A series of hybrid inorganic-organic copper(II) hydroxy n-alkylsulfonate with a triangular lattice, Cu(2)(OH)(3)(C(n)H(2)(n)(+1)SO(3)) (n = 6, 8, 10), are prepared by anion exchange, starting from copper hydroxy nitrate Cu(2)(OH)(3)NO(3). These compounds show a layered structure as determined by X-ray diffraction, with interlayer distances of 14.3-34.8 A in alternation with interdigitated bilayer packing. Magnetic properties have been investigated by means of dc and ac measurements. All the compounds show similar metamagnet behaviors, with a Neel temperature of about 11 K. A subtle difference in the ac magnetic susceptibility among the compounds is understood by the existence of hydrogen bonding between the sulfonate headgroup and the hydroxide anion. A detailed molecular structure of the alkyl chains incorporated to the inorganic copper hydroxide layer is also discussed from the FTIR data.     

Nitrato- and fluoroboracites M3B7O13NO3 and M3B7O13F

New boracites containing nitrato- or fluoroanions that appear to be true low-pressure phases have been synthesized at superatmospheric pressures. The M₃B₇O₁₃NO₃ compounds (M = Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd) transform rapidly and reversibly in the temperature region 300–500°C between probable orthorhombic and face centered cubic symmetry, while the M₃B₇O₁₃F compounds (M = Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn) appear to maintain rhombohedral symmetry up to their decomposition temperatures of 800–900°C. True high-pressure boracite-like phases containing F and Cr, Mn, Fe, or Co that decompose upon heating to M₃B₇O₁₃F have also been isolated.     

Determination of surface charge properties of PC-12 cells by electrophoresis

The electrophoretic behavior of pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Cell mobility in aqueous media at different pHs and ionic concentrations was measured, and a model, which assumed that the cell surface contains both acidic and basic functional groups, was proposed. As a result, it was revealed that the experimental data gathered can be described satisfactorily by assuming that the cell surface contains two types of monovalent acidic functional groups and one basic functional group. The values of the dissociation constants of the acidic and basic groups are found to be close to those of acidic amino acids, which indicates that the acidic amino acids may play an important role in the surface electrical properties of PC-12 cells.