Robust portfolio selection with uncertain exit time using worst-case VaR strategy

To deal with the robust portfolio selection problem where only partial information on the exit time distribution and on the conditional distribution of portfolio return is available, we extend the worst-case VaR approach and formulate the corresponding problems as semi-definite programs. Moreover, we present some numerical results with real market data.     

Controlled Release of Model Drug from Biodegradable Segmented Polyurethane Ureas: Morphological and Structural Features

Segmented polyurethane ureas (SPUUs), which are being used in implant devices, were evaluated as drug delivery matrices using theophylline as a model drug without much sacrificing the mechanical properties of films after drug doping. SPUUs were synthesized from aliphatic diisocyanate (lysine methyl ester diisocyante (LDI)), poly(caprolactone) diol with molecular weights 530, 1250 and 2000 and 1,4-butanediamine. Three series of segmented SPUUs were prepared with various soft segment lengths and were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic viscoelastic measurements and tensile testing. A single tanδ peak was observed in dynamic viscoelastic measurements, which revealed phase mixing of hard and soft segments. Low elongation at break was observed in case of PCL 2000 based SPUUs, may be due to partial cystallization of PCL segment. The degradation of SPUUs in alkaline solution and in vitro drug release of theophylline in pH 7.4 buffer were also investigated. The drug release behavior from these films were analyzed by the exponent relation M_t/M_∞ = ktⁿ, where k and n are constants and M_t/M_∞ is the fraction of drug released until time, t. The constant n was found to be close to 0.5 in all samples, which suggests the release of drug from these polymers can be explained by the Fickian diffusion model.     

Comparisons of EPR imaging and T1-weighted MRI for efficient imaging of nitroxyl contrast agents

The resolution and signal to noise ratio of EPR imaging and T(1)-weighted MRI were compared using an identical phantom. Several solutions of nitroxyl contrast agents with different EPR spectral shapes were tested. The feasibility of T(1)-weighted MRI to detect nitroxyl contrast agents was described. T(1)-weighted MRI can detect nitroxyl contrast agents with a complicated EPR spectrum easier and quicker; however, T(1)-weighted MRI has less quantitative ability especially for lipophilic nitroxyl contrast agents, because T(1)-relaxivity, i.e. accessibility to water, is affected by the hydrophilic/hydrophobic micro-environment of a nitroxyl contrast agent. The less quantitative ability of T(1)-weighted MRI may not be a disadvantage of redox imaging, which obtains reduction rate of a nitroxyl contrast. Therefore, T(1)-weighted MRI has a great advantage to check the pharmacokinetics of newly modified and/or designed nitroxyl contrast agents.     

Comparison of the base catalytic activity of MgO prepared by thermal decomposition of hydroxide,basic carbonate,and oxalate under atmospheric conditions

Research on Chemical Intermediates - To obtain highly active solid base catalyst of magnesium oxide (MgO) under atmospheric conditions, hydroxide (Mg(OH)2), basic carbonate...     

μSR Study of the Unusual Magnetic Ordering in the Frustrated Antiferromagnet Zn(Cr x Ga1−x )2O4

μSR spectra on the spin frustrating spinel antiferromagnet Zn(Cr _x Ga_1−x )₂O₄ (x=0.9,1.0) have been measured. For x=1.0 compound, both the relaxation rate and the initial asymmetry showed distinct anomalies at the Néel temperature. The magnetic susceptibility for the x=0.9 compound was known to have a faint peak at around 12 K, whose origin was not clear so far. Our μSR study revealed that this temperature is the onset temperature of development of the magnetic correlation accompanied by appreciable spin fluctuations. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On stationary points of the implicit Lagrangian for nonlinear complementarity problems

Mangasarian and Solodov have recently introduced an unconstrained optimization problem whose global minima are solutions of the nonlinear complementarity problem (NCP). In this paper, we show that, if the mapping involved in NCP has a positive-definite Jacobian, then any stationary point of the optimization problem actually solves NCP. We also discuss a descent method for solving the unconstrained optimization problem.The authors are indebted to a referee for a helpful suggestion that led them to develop the descent method described in Section 3. They are grateful to Professor F. Facchinei, who kindly pointed out an error in the proof of Theorem 2.3 in an earlier version of the paper. The also thank Professor P. Tseng for a discussion on Theorem 3.1.     

Antioxidant ortho-benzoyloxyphenyl acetic acid ester,vaccihein A,from the fruit of rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei)

A new ortho-benzoyloxyphenyl acetic acid ester, called vaccihein A (1), was isolated from the fruit of rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei). The chemical structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compound 1 had antioxidative activity using the ferric thiocyanate method. In addition, 1 showed a scavenging effect on the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl.