The “progressive mixture” estimator for regression trees

We present a version of O. Catoni's “progressive mixture estimator” (1999) suited for a general regression framework. Following basically Catoni's steps, we derive strong non-asymptotic upper bounds for the Kullback–Leibler risk in this framework. We give a more explicit form for this bound when the models considered are regression trees, present a modified version of the estimator in an extended framework and propose an approximate computation using a Metropolis algorithm.     

甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合动力学和分子量模型及仿真

考虑甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合过程中体积收缩，反应物和生成物的浓度变化，以及由于凝胶、玻璃化和笼闭等效应对各速率常数和物性参数的影响，从基元反应和物料平衡出发，推导了半间歇，有链转移剂参与情况下的聚合动力学和分子量模型。用模型仿真计算了聚合温度、引发剂、溶剂和链转移剂的种类和浓度等对甲基丙烯酸甲酯聚合动力学和聚合过程中分子量变化的影响规律，并与实验和文献数据进行比较。     

A study on application of impregnated synthetic peptide TLC stationary phases for the screening of 5-HT1A ligands. Part 2

Six extended analogues of the recently described peptides (LDVL, ADVL) were designed and synthesized on a solid support, and then impregnated on TLC stationary phases. The impact of the impregnated peptide sequence modifications on the chromatographic retard, Delta R(f) (difference in the migration of tested compound on control and impregnated plates), of 42 arylpiperazine 5-HT(1A) receptor ligands was studied. None of the new models tested made a better prediction of 5-HT(1A) affinity than that utilizing ADVL tetrapeptide. Further validation of the ADVL model on a set of 22 structurally differentiated 2-methoxy-phenylpiperazine derivatives confirmed its effectiveness in the affinity discrimination of a coherent group of 5-HT(1A) receptor ligands.     

Platinum-Group Element Distribution in Some Ore Deposits: Results of EPMA and Micro-PIXE Analyses

The distribution of platinum-group elements (PGE) in the Main Sulfide Zone of the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe, in the arsenide ores of Vammala and Kylmäkoski mines in Finland, and in the chromite-Ni arsenide ores from the Ronda and Beni Bousera massifs (Spain and Morocco) has been studied by means of different optical and microanalytical techniques. The results show a bimodal distribution of PGE in the ores from the Great Dyke and the Vammala and Kylmäkoski mines where Pd, Pt and, to lesser extent, Rh occur both as discrete platinum-group minerals and in solid solution in sulfides, arsenides and sulfarsenides. In the ores from Ronda and Beni Bousera, platinum-group elements occur only in solid solution in arsenides and sulfarsenides.Trace electron probe (EPMA) and micro-PIXE analyses of Pd in sulfides, arsenides and sulfarsenides produce comparable results at concentration levels well above their limit of detection (LOD). These are 27–29ppm by EMPA and 2.5–7ppm by micro-PIXE. Whereas trace EPMA on arsenides and sulfarsenides measure Pt concentrations above 33–35ppm, the proximity of the Pt L lines and the As K line severely degrade de detection limit for Pt in micro-PIXE analyses, increasing the LOD up to 440ppm. The rest of PGE were randomly detected by both methods at concentrations close to their LOD.     

Enzyme-catalyzed syntheses of poly(1,6-hexanediyl maleate) and poly(1,6-hexanediyl fumarate) in organic medium

The lipase-catalyzed preparation of poly(1,6-hexanediyl maleate) by transesterification of 1,6-hexanediol and dimethyl maleate is described. A configurationally pure poly(1,6-hexanediyl maleate) exhibiting exclusively cis structure was obtained. During the reaction, a substantial amount of macrolactones was formed. They were isolated, and the cyclic oligomer with y = 2 was found to predominate. Cycles are semi-crystalline, while no melting point was detected for the linear poly(1,6-hexanediyl maleate). We assume that the linear unsaturated polyester is completely amorphous owing to its cis configuration.     

Thermal Characterization of Polymethyl(α-n-Pentyl)Acrylate

This work presents new results concerning characterization of polymethyl(α-n-pentyl)acrylate polymer by means of thermal analysis. In differential scanning calorimetry investigations, the measured values of T _g, T _f and ΔC _p, i.e. the glass transition temperature, the fictive temperature and the heat capacity step at T _g, show that the polymer can be considered as fragile. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed two mass losses, the first, at low temperature, being associated with the evaporation of water molecules, and the second, at high temperature, corresponding degradation of the polymer. This degradation is a two-step phenomenon. Finally, study of the β and the α transitions by elementary and complex TSDC led to the following values: T _β=?40°C, T _α=36°C, T _c=47°C, τ_c=2.5 s and ΔH=85 to 165 kJ mol^?1.     

Structural and photophysical properties of visible- and near-IR-emitting tris lanthanide(III) complexes formed with the enantiomers of N,N'-bis(1-phenylethyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide

The enantiomers of N,N'-bis(1-phenylethyl)-2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide (L), namely, (R,R)-1, and (S,S)-1, react with Ln(III) ions to give stable [LnL(3)](3+) complexes in an anhydrous acetonitrile solution and in the solid state, as evidenced by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, NMR, luminescence titrations, and their X-ray crystal structures, respectively. All [LnL(3)](3+) complexes [Ln(III) = Eu, Gd, Tb, and Yb; L = (R,R)-1 and (S,S)-1] are isostructural and crystallize in the cubic space group I23. Although the small quantum yields of the Ln(III)-centered luminescence clearly point to the poor efficiency of the luminescence sensitization by the ligand and the intersystem crossing and ligand-to-metal energy transfers, the ligand triplet-excited-state energy seems relatively well suited to sensitize many Ln(III) ion's emission for instance, in the visible (Eu and Tb), near-IR (Nd and Yb), or both regions (Pr, Sm, Dy, Er, and Tm).     

Interplay between cationic and neutral species in the rhodium-catalyzed hydroaminomethylation reaction

The reactivity of [Rh(CO)(2){(R,R)-Ph-BPE}]BF(4) (2) toward amine, CO and/or H(2) was examined by high-pressure NMR and IR spectroscopy. The two cationic pentacoordinated species [Rh(CO)(3) {(R,R)-Ph-BPE}]BF(4) (4) and [Rh(CO)(2)(NHC(5)H(10)){(R,R)-Ph-BPE}]BF(4) (8) were identified. The transformation of 2 into the neutral complex [RhH(CO)(2){(R,R)-Ph-BPE}] (3) under hydroaminomethylation conditions (CO/H(2), amine) was investigated. The full mechanisms related to the formation of 3, 4 and 8 starting from 2 are supported by DFT calculations. In particular, the pathway from 2 to 3 revealed the deprotonation by the amine of the dihydride species [Rh(H)(2)(CO)(2){(R,R)-Ph-BPE}]BF(4) (6), resulting from the oxidative addition of H(2) on 2.