Learning from dependent observations

In most papers establishing consistency for learning algorithms it is assumed that the observations used for training are realizations of an i.i.d. process. In this paper we go far beyond this classical framework by showing that support vector machines (SVMs) only require that the data-generating process satisfies a certain law of large numbers. We then consider the learnability of SVMs for α-mixing (not necessarily stationary) processes for both classification and regression, where for the latter we explicitly allow unbounded noise.     

Determination of tarce water in non-polar organic solvents with a flow-injection system and tin tetrachloride or antimony pentachloride

Low levels of water (limit of detection 2-5 mg kg^1?)can be determined in a non-polar organic solvents such as benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) and n-hexane by utilizing the reaction of water with SnCl₄ or SbCl₅. The reaction results of hydrolysis in halide and is accompanied by a decrease in optical absorption. With SnSl₄, the reaction is monitored near 300 nm and with SbCl₅ it is monitored at lower wavelengths (350-420). Niether reactons proceeds well in media containing only DCE and n-hexane. For this reason, the arrangemens involves a halide reagent dissolved in benzene which is merged with a benzene/n-hexane/DCE carrier stream into which samlpe is injected. A configuration in which only 2μl of a concentrated halide reagent solution is injected into the flowing sample stream is also shown to be viable for the determination of water in benzene. A membrane-permeation-based calibration method for preparing trace water standards is described.     

Biotoxicity of nanoparticles: effect of natural organic matter

Various natural organic matters (NOM) with different characteristics in aquatic environment may affect toxicity of leased nanoparticles, owing to interactions between NOM and nanoparticles. This study investigated the effect of NOM and physical characteristics of the effluent organic matter (EfOM) on the ecotoxicity of quantum dots (QD) using Daphnia magna. Organic matter samples were obtained from: Yeongsan River (YR-NOM), Dongbuk Lake (DL-NOM), Damyang wastewater treatment plant (EfOM), and Suwannee River NOM (SR-NOM). The QD was composed of a CdSe core, ZnS shell, and polyethylene glycol coating. The average size of the investigated QD was 4.8, 56.5, and 25.0 nm determined by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation, respectively. The relative hydrophobicity of NOM was investigated using both specific UV absorbance at 254 nm and XAD-8/4 resins. The sorption of NOM on the QD was measured using a fluorescence quenching method. The highest hydrophobicity was exhibited by the SR-NOM, while the lowest was recorded for the DL-NOM. All tested NOMs significantly reduced the acute toxicity of D. magna when adsorbed to QD, and the order of effectiveness for each NOM was as follows: SR-NOM > EfOM > YS-NOM > DL-NOM. The sorption of NOM on the QD surface caused a decrease in the fluorescence intensity of QD at increasing NOM concentration. This suggests that the NOM coating influenced the physicochemical characteristics of QD in the internal organs of D. magna by inducing a reduced bioavailability. Results from this study revealed that NOM with relatively high hydrophobicity had a greater capability of inducing toxicity mitigation.     

Electron Spin Resonance Study on the Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Chlorophyll a in Reconstituted Lipid Bilayer Vesicles

Abstract  

The photoinduced electron transfer from chlorophyll a through the interface of positively charged dioctadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DODAC), neutral dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and negatively charged dihexadecylphosphate (DHP) headgroup of the lipid bilayers was studied. The photoinduced radicals were identified by electron spin resonance (ESR) and radical yields of chlorophyll a were determined by double integration of the ESR spectra. The formation of vesicles was identified indirectly by measuring change of the λ _max value of optical absorption spectrophotometer from diethyl ether solution to vesicle solutions, and observed directly with scanning and transmission electron microscopic images. The interaction distance between chlorophyll a and interface water (D₂O) determined by deuterium modulation depth with electron spin echo modulation (ESEM) showed a decreasing order DODAC > DPPC > DHP. The interface charge of each vesicle was determined with zeta potential measurement. The interface charge of the lipid bilayers affected the radical yields of chlorophyll a more critically than the interaction distance between chlorophyll a and interface water.     

Nondurable K-Theory Equivalence and Bousfield Localization*

In this paper we consider what happens when Adams self maps are modified by adding certain unstable maps. The unstable maps which are added are trivial after a single suspension. We can choose the modification so that the maps are still K-theory equivalences but the loops on the map are no longer K-theory equivalences. As a corollary we note that the maps are K-theory equivalences but not v₁-periodic equivalences. Another consequence is the behavior of the cobar spectral sequences for generalized homology theories. Tamaki shows that in certain cases a cobar-type spectral sequence for generalized homology theories is well behaved. The maps we construct give an example where despite the connectivity of the spaces the cobar spectral sequence is still poorly behaved. Finally we use our maps to construct spaces whose Bousfield class is distinct from the cofiber of the Adams map but which becomes the same after one suspension.     

Trajectory studies of energy transfer: CH3NC with He,Xe, H2 and N2

A trajectory program was used to simulate the collisions of CH₃NC with He, Xe, H₂ and N₂. Calculated energy transfer is in accord with experiment. The pattern of CH₃NC vibrational mode energization is found to be noticeably non-random. The approximate sampling methods used in thermal unimolecular trajectory studies produce a more uniform state distribution.     

The barrier attenuation of garden fences

A study has been undertaken of the barrier attenuation produced by 40 different finite garden fences shielding suburban homes from traffic noise. Two alternative techniques of measuring barrier attenuation were used and an empirical relationship between the results is obtained. The attenuation measured in terms of $\text{L}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext>}}$, $\text{L}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>10</mtext>}}$ or $\text{L}{}_{\mathrm{eq}}$ generally agrees within ± 1 dB(A) for a given barrier. Similarly constructed fences can produce different attenuations, depending on their surroundings. The effects of unshielded ends, open gates and vegetation are considered. It is postulated that buildings reflect back sound, the effect depending on building size and distance from the fence. A reasonable trend is obtained for brick barriers; however, the wooden fence results may be obscured by sound leakage through the fence.     

The nature of phase separation in binary oxide melts and glasses. III. Borate and germanate systems

A review of immiscibility data in binary borate and germanate systems was performed in order to compare miscibility gap consolute temperatures with ionic potentials and radii of their associated cations. The trends obtained demonstrate that a selective solution mechanism similar to the one identified for the binary silicate systems is present in the borate and germanate binaries. More importantly, the borate and germanate immiscibility data permitted the identification of a new group of cations depicting an immiscibility behaviour different from the ones identified in binary silicate systems. The new group involves highly polarizable cations possessing a lone pair of electrons. This lone pair of electrons together with oxygen bonded by strong covalent bonds to modifier cations provides efficient shielding to the cations' nuclei which considerably reduces the coulombic repulsions and produces miscibility gaps with very low consolute temperatures. A new group of cations having an homogenizing effect on melts (i.e. a capacity to make immiscible melts single phase) is thus reported. Experimental and spectroscopic data suggest that miscibility gaps associated with cations having a lone pair of electrons exist in binary silicate systems such as TlO_1/2-SiO₂, PbO-SiO₂, SnO-SiO₂ and Bi₂O₃-SiO₂. The consolute temperature of their miscibility gaps is expected to be relatively low and metastable.