Convergence rate of the best-r-point-average estimator for the maximizer of a nonparametric regression function

The best-r-point-average (BRPA) estimator of the maximizer of a regression function, proposed in Changchien (in: M.T. Chao, P.E. Cheng (Eds.), Proceedings of the 1990 Taipei Symposium in Statistics, June 28–30, 1990, pp. 63–78) has certain merits over the estimators derived through the estimation of the regression function. Some of the properties of the BRPA estimator have been studied in Chen et al. (J. Multivariate Anal. 57 (1996) 191) and Bai and Huang (Sankhya: Indian J. Statist. Ser. A. 61 (Pt. 2) (1999) 208–217). In this article, we further study the properties of the BRPA estimator and give its convergence rate under some quite general conditions. Simulation results are presented for the illustration of the convergence rate. Some comparisons with existing estimators such as the Müller estimator are provided.     

A class of multivariate skew-normal models

The existing model for multivariate skew normal data does not cohere with the joint distribution of a random sample from a univariate skew normal distribution. This incoherence causes awkward interpretation for data analysis in practice, especially in the development of the sampling distribution theory. In this paper, we propose a refined model that is coherent with the joint distribution of the univariate skew normal random sample, for multivariate skew normal data. The proposed model extends and strengthens the multivariate skew model described in Azzalini (1985,Scandinavian Journal of Statistics,12, 171–178). We present a stochastic representation for the newly proposed model, and discuss a bivariate setting, which confirms that the newly proposed model is more plausible than the one given by Azzalini and Dalla Valle (1996,Biometrika,83, 715–726).     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole in pharmaceuticals and urine.

A rapid and sensitive flow-injection spectrophotometric method is proposed for the determination of sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole. This method is based on the diazotization of sulfonamide with sodium nitrite, and a coupling reaction of the diazo-compound with alpha-naphthylamine. The optimum experimental conditions are obtained by using the controlled and weighted centroid simplex method. The linear ranges for the determination of sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole are 0.2-20 microg ml(-1) and 0.1-20 microg ml(-1), and their detection limits are 0.06 microg ml(-1) and 0.05 microg ml(-1), respectively, and the sampling frequency is 130 samples per hour. The method has been used to determine sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole in pharmaceuticals and urine without separation. The results are in agreement with those obtained by a high-performance liquid chromatograph technique at the 95% confidence level.     

A new joint model for longitudinal and survival data with a cure fraction

We develop a new joint cure rate model for longitudinal and survival data. The model allows for multiple longitudinal markers as well as a cure structure for the survival component based on the promotion time cure rate model, as described in Ibrahim et al. (Bayesian Survival Analysis, Springer, New York, 2001). Several characteristics and properties of the new model are discussed and examined. A real dataset from a melanoma clinical trial is given to demonstrate the methodology.     

Noncollinear optical parametric amplification in lithium triborate seeded by a cw Ti:sapphire laser

Experimental investigations of a type-I noncollinear phase-matched optical parametric amplification based on lithium triborate, which was pumped by a 5-ns second-harmonic pulses from a Q-switched Nd:YAG, seeded by a cw Ti:sapphire laser at 800 nm, was presented. The experiments generated 2-ns signal output pulses at 800 nm, the maximum signal output pulse energy reached 19 μJ, the corresponding parametric gain was 44 dB. Furthermore, the experiments demonstrate that the 65 nm-FWHM parametric fluorescence gain spectrum could also be observed. A quantitative account of the ultrabroadband parametric fluorescence gain spectrum was given with our theory. The experimental measurements are in agreement with theoretical calculations.     

Optical investigation of cavitation erosion by laser-induced bubble collapse

By means of a new force sensor based on optical beam deflection (OBD), the mechanical effects of laser-matter interaction underwater at different incident laser energy are investigated in detail. The experimental results show that a target underwater is impacted in turn by laser-plasma ablation force and high-speed liquid-jet impulse induced by bubbles collapse in the vicinity of a solid boundary. Furthermore, the amplitudes of the two forces increase monotonously with laser energy. According to the ablation force detected by the experiment and the theoretical relationship between laser intensity and ablation pressure, the value of liquid-jet impact against a solid boundary can be easily obtained. In addition, based on the model of a collapsing bubble, some characteristic parameters, such as the liquid-jet impact velocity, the maximum bubble radius, the bubble energy can also be obtained at different laser energy, which are valuable in the corresponding research fields.     

Operating Parameters Optimization of Buffer Gas in Optically Pumped Submillimeter Wave Laser

Based on the basic theory of molecular vibration relaxation and semi-classical density matrix theory, operating parameters optimization of buffer gas in the process of miniature pulsed optically pumped submillimeter wave laser was systemically studied and the theoretical calculated result was tested by experiments. The result would do favor to develop and study high-power and wide-range tunable miniature and high-efficient pulsed optically pumped submillimeter wave laser and also had some instruction to its application.     

A new summation identity for the Srivastava-Singhal polynomials

In his recent investigations involving differential operators for some generalizations of the classical Laguerre polynomials, H. Bavinck [J. Phys. A Math. Gen. 29 (1996) L277-L279] encountered and proved a certain summation identity for the classical Laguerre polynomials. The main object of this sequel to Bavinck's work is to prove a generalization of this summation identity for the Srivastava-Singhal polynomials. The demonstration, which is presented here in the general case, differs markedly from the earlier proof given for the known special case. It is also indicated how the general summation identity can be applied to derive the corresponding result for one class of the Konhauser biorthogonal polynomials.     

Magnetotransport and magnetic properties of InAs/Mn digital alloys

We have investigated the magnetic and magneto-transport properties of a systematic sequence of five InAs/Mn digital alloys grown by a combination of molecular beam epitaxy and atomic layer epitaxy. The samples consist of 30 periods of Mn fractional monolayers (ML) (0.17–0.5 ML) separated by 14 ML thick InAs spacer layers in a superlattice configuration. Four samples show n-type electrical conduction while the fifth (0.25 ML Mn) is p-type. Squid magnetization measurements performed on these samples show remnant magnetization above room temperature, which is apparently related to a second phase.