On progressively truncated maximum likelihood estimators

Summary The basic regularity conditions pertaining to the asymptotic theory of progressively truncated likelihood functions and maximum likelihood estimators are considered, and the uniform strong consistency and weak convergence of progressively truncated maximum likelihood estimators are studied systematically. Work done during the first author's visit (as a visiting scholar) to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, supported by the Ministry of Education of the Japanese Government. Work supported by the (U.S.) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Contact NIH-NHLBI-F1-2243-L.     

The vibrational spectrum of thionynyl fluoride and its oxygen-18 isotopomer[1]

The vibrational spectrum of thionyl fluoride, SOF₂, has been reinvestigated by means of high resolution infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Substitution of oxygen-16 by oxygen-18 led to a definitive identification of those modes to which sulfur-oxygen motion makes a large contribution. The band structure of the sulfur-oxygen stretching vibration, which is obscured by Fermi resonance with a combination band in S¹⁶OF₂, has been resolved in S¹⁸OF₂. The experimental isotopic splittings are compared with those calculated by previous investigators.     

Impairment in S-phase entry of splenocytes of Parp-1 knockout mice

One immediate cellular response to DNA damage is the polyADP-ribosylation reaction by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (Parp-1). The importance of Parp-1 has been established in many cellular processes, such as the maintenance of genomic stability, DNA repair and cell-death induction. Here, we established Parp-1^−/− mice of C57BL/6J congenic strain and characterized the role of Parp-1 in cell-cycle progression. In this study, we also improved a method to observe G0/G1 to S-phase transition of splenocytes and bone marrow cells prepared from mice. The cells were cultured and stimulated with mitogens (50 μM ionomycin/1 μM phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate). We found that addition of a commercially available growth supportive reagent, BM Condimed ^RH1, greatly enhanced the transition of G0/G1 to the S-phase, which was determined by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation to DNA. Using this method, G0/G1 to the S-phase entry was measured using splenocytes derived from Parp-1^−/−, Parp-1^+/− and wild-type (Parp-1^+/+) mice. DNA synthesis in Parp-1^+/+ and Parp-1^+/− splenocytes started from day 1 after addition of mitogens, whereas that in Parp-1^−/− cells started from day 2. The peak of the S-phase was at day 2 in all genotypes and notably DNA synthesis in Parp-1^−/− cells was approximately halved compared to Parp-1^+/+ cells on day 2, 3 and 4. These results suggested that Parp-1 is involved in positive regulation of S-phase entry in quiescent mouse splenocytes.     

Application of modified normal pulse polarography and its differential mode to alkaline-earth metal ions in acid solutions

The simultaneous determination of alkaline-earth metal ions in acid solution was studied by modified normal pulse polarography. Well-defined waves were recorded for calcium, strontium and barium, but no limiting current was found for magnesium, because of its very negative reduction potential. The differential mode of this method gives peak-type polarograms and is useful for the simultaneous determination of species for which the half-wave potentials lie close together. The interference of dissolved oxygen was eliminated by the use of tetramethylammonium chloride as a supporting electrolyte.     

The cycloadducts of hexafluoroacetone and -thioacetone with diphenylketene

Hexafluoroacetone reacted with diphenylketene in the presence of potassium fluoride to give a 1:1 cycloadduct of β-lactone structure. On the other hand, hexafluorothioacetone, liberated from 2,2,4,4-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dithietane by potassium fluoride, reacted with diphenylketene to give a “reverse” cycloadduct, a 3-thietanone derivative. Several reactions ofthe above product, including a reductive desulfuration of the 3-thietanone derivative were carried out.     

Detection of multivariate outliers with location slippage or scale inflation in left orthogonally invariant or elliptically contoured distributions

This paper is concerned with two kinds of multiple outlier problems in multivariate regression. One is a multiple location-slippage problem and the other is a multiple scale-inflation problem. A multi-decision rule is proposed. Its optimality is shown for the first problem in a class of left orthogonally invariant distributions and is also shown for the second problem in a class of elliptically contoured distributions. Thus the decision rule is robust against departures from normality. Further the null robustness of the decision statistic which the rule is based on is pointed out in each problem.     

Measurements of velocity distributions with a laser doppler imaging system

A laser Doppler imaging system with a TV camera has been constructed and velocity distributions of fluid flow in cross sections of a rectangular channel have been measured. Consequently, it has been found that the system has some advantages in comparison with usual laser Doppler velocimeters, for example, the visualization of flow can be easily achieved.     

Structures of xestospongin A,B,C and D,novel vasodilativecompounds from marine sponge, xestospongiaexigua

Xestospongin A,B,C and D represent a new class of macrocyclic 1-oxaquinolizidines, have been isolated from Australian sponge $\text{Xestospongia}$$\text{exigua}$. The structure of xestospongin C has been determined by X-ray analysis.