Competitive evaluation of threshold functions in the priced information model

In Charikar et al. (J. Comput. Syst. Sci. 64(4):785–819, 2002) the authors proposed a new model for studying the function evaluation problem based on a variant of the classical decision tree problem for Boolean functions. In this variant each variable of the function to evaluate has an associated cost which has to be paid in order to read the value of the variable. Given a function f and an assignment σ to the variables of f, the performance of an algorithm for evaluating f is measured via the competitive ratio, i.e., the ratio of the total cost spent by the algorithm and the cost of the cheapest set of variables constituting a certificate for the value of the function on the given assignment.     

Loss aversion with multiple investment goals

This paper presents a time-continuous portfolio selection model with loss averse investors, who possess multiple investment goals at different time horizons. The model assumes partial narrow framing. Investors follow a two-step approach. First, they optimally allocate wealth among investment goals. Second, they determine an optimal investment strategy for each investment goal separately. We show that when loss aversion is according to the experimental findings, investors mainly invest their wealth to reach long-term goals and adopt investment strategies with high leverage to reach short-term goals. The overall strategy also display high leverage. The same patterns is observed when loss aversion is extreme and goals are very ambitious. By contrast, when loss aversion is extreme but goals are not too ambitious, investors mainly invest to reach short-term goals and adopt safe investment strategies for this purpose.     

Flexible conducting polymer transistors with supercapacitor function

Planar organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) using PEDOT:PSS as the channel material and nanostructured carbon (nsC) as the gate electrode material and poly(sodium 4‐styrenesulfonate (PSSNa) gel as the electrolyte were fabricated on flexible polyethylene terephthalate (Mylar^®) substrates. The nsC was deposited at room‐temperature by supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD). Interestingly, the OECT acts as a hybrid supercapacitor (to give a device that we indicate as transcap). The energy storage ability of transcaps has been studied with two cell configurations: one featuring PEDOT:PSS as the positive electrode and nsC as the negative electrode and another configuration with reversed electrode polarity. Potentiostatic charge/discharge studies show that both supercapacitors show good performance in terms of voltage retention, in particular, when PEDOT:PSS is used as the positive electrode. Galvanostatic charge–discharge characteristics show typical symmetric triangular shape, indicating a nearly ideal capacitive behavior with a high columbic efficiency (close to 100%). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55, 96–103     

Quantitative analysis of two-dimensional gel-separated proteins using isotopically marked alkylating agents and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry

We describe a simple approach for the relative quantification of individual proteins within a mixture. The method is based on the differential labelling of the mixtures by use of a commercially available acrylamide and deuterium-labelled [2,3,3'-d(3)]-acrylamide to alkylate proteins prior to two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. The tryptic digests of the separated proteins were subjected to reflector matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis and the relative peak heights of cysteine-containing peptides were used to quantify their precursor proteins. This approach was tested for the relative quantification of proteins within an artificial mixture of standard proteins and for proteins observed in a 2-D map of rat serum. A good correlation was found between the measured ratios derived from MALDI-TOF data and those theoretically calculated prior to 2-D analysis via known mixing ratios of the two alkylating reagents. The described procedure has proved to be effective for comparative measurements of protein abundances within the investigated mixtures.     

Spectral properties and absolute rate constants for beta-scission of ring-substituted cumyloxyl radicals. A laser flash photolysis study

A laser flash photolysis study of the spectral properties and beta-scission reactions of a series of ring-substituted cumyloxyl radicals has been carried out. All cumyloxyl radicals display a broad absorption band in the visible region of the spectrum, which decays on the microsecond time scale, leading to a strong increase in absorption in the UV region of the spectrum, which is attributed to the corresponding acetophenone formed after beta-scission of the cumyloxyl radicals. The position of the visible absorption band is red-shifted by the presence of electron-donating ring substituents, while a blue-shift is observed in the presence of electron-withdrawing ring substituents, suggesting that + R ring substituents promote charge separation in the excited cumyloxyl radical through stabilization of the partial positive charge on the aromatic ring of an incipient radical zwitterion. Along this line, an excellent Hammett-type correlation between the experimentally measured energies at the visible absorption maxima of the cumyloxyl radicals and sigma(+) substituent constants is obtained. A red-shift is also observed on going from MeCN to MeCN/H(2)O for all cumyloxyl radicals, pointing toward a specific effect of water. The ring substitution does not influence to a significant extent the rate constants for beta-scission of the cumyloxyl radicals, which varies between 7.1 x 10(5) and 1.1 x 10(6) s(-1), a result that suggests that cumyloxyl radical beta-scission is not governed by the stability of the resulting acetophenone. Finally, k(beta) increases on going from MeCN to the more polar MeCN/H(2)O 1:1 for all cumyloxyl radicals, an observation that reflects the increased stabilization of the transition state for beta-scission through increased solvation of the incipient acetophenone product.     

Allylation of exocyclic N-Acyliminium ions generated from chiral N-[1-(phenylsulfonyl)alkyl]oxazolidin-2-ones

N-[1-(Phenylsulfonyl)alkyl]oxazolidin-2-ones are successfully prepared by condensation of the corresponding optically active oxazolidin-2-ones with aldehydes and benzenesulfinic acid. At low temperature, in the presence of titanium tetrachloride, these sulfones are converted into N-acyliminium ions, which react with allyltrimethylsilane with a variable degree of stereoselectivity. The best results are obtained with (R)-5,5-dimethyl-4-phenyloxazolidin-2-one as a chiral auxiliary. Cleavage of the oxazolidin-2-one ring with lithium/ammonia affords the corresponding homoallylamines, which reveal an absolute configuration opposite that expected on the basis of the usual steric effects. A complexation of the Lewis acid with the N-acyliminium ion may be responsible of this rather unusual stereochemical outcome.     

Simulation on the Effect of Brownian Motion on Nanoparticle Trajectories in a Pulsed Microplasma Cluster Source

We describe a simulation of the nanoparticle trajectories in a pulsed cluster beam source. Clusters, formed by condensation of atomic vapor in a helium bath, and considered here as rigid spheres having a diameter of 1.5nm, were tracked during their travel inside the source cavity, an aerodynamic lens, and a cylindrical nozzle. Steady state supersonic laminar flow of helium is considered in an axi-symmetric geometry aiming to simulate, within some limitations, the conditions under which cluster formation takes place in a pulsed microplasma cluster source. In spite of the unsteady nature of the pulsed source, the time scale characterizing particle motion in the flow field is significantly smaller than the characteristic time constant for the evolution of gas pressure in the source. For this reason, a steady simulation can shed some light on the understanding of processes governing nanoparticle motion in a pulsed vaporization source. The extent to which the Brownian diffusion can affect the particle extraction from the source is investigated. Simulations have shown that the Brownian motion perturbs the clusters from the trajectories dictated by the carrier gas and increases the rate of cluster deposition on the source internal walls. However, it does not hinder the aerodynamic focalization produced by the lens even in nano-size cluster regime. This result is qualitatively confirmed by experiment.     

Uncertainty Inequalities for Fourier Series of Pairs of Reciprocal Positive Functions

In the early 1930s, Wiener proved that if f(x) is a strictlypositive periodic function whose Fourier series is absolutelyconvergent, then the Fourier series of g(x)=1/f(x) is also absolutelyconvergent [8, pp. 10–14]. This phenomenon can be easilyunderstood nowadays using Banach algebra techniques (see, forexample, [4, pp. 202–203]). In fact, these techniquesallow us to study the absolute convergence of g(x)=F(f(x)),where F is holomorphic in an open subset of C that containsthe range of f(x) (for xR). In this context, Wiener's originalproblem corresponds to the choice F(z)=1/z. In this work we want to analyse the constraints on the simultaneousrate of vanishing of the Fourier coefficients f(n) and (n) asn. We shall focus on g=1/f, but we shall also study the generalcase g=F(f). In either case, there are obviously no constraintswhen f is a constant function. Although this problem does not seem to be directly related touncertainty inequalities for the Fourier Transform, we observethat there are some analogies, both in the nature of the resultsand in the proof techniques. The general fact with which weare dealing is that f(n) and (n) cannot vanish too quickly atthe same time as n, unless f(x) is constant. The general factthat underlies uncertainty inequalities is that a non-periodicfunction (x) and its Fourier Transform circ;(u) cannot vanishtoo quickly at the same time as x and u, unless (x) is zero(almost everywhere). For a simple introduction to some aspectsof uncertainty inequalities, see [5]; for a thorough and recentintroduction to this vast subject, see [3]. 1991 MathematicsSubject Classification 42A05, 42A16, 42A99.