Second Order Representations of the Least Absolute Deviation Regression Estimator

We consider exact weak and strong Bahadur-Kiefer representations of the least absolute deviation estimator for the linear regression model. The precise behavior of these representations is obtained under minimal conditions.     

Large-scale production of cellulose-binding domains. Adsorption studies using CBD-FITC conjugates

A method for the gram-scale production of cellulose-binding domains (CBD) through the proteolytic digestion of a commercial enzymatic preparation (Celluclast) was developed. The CBD obtained, isolated from Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I, is highly pure and heavily glycosylated. The purified peptide has a molecular weight of 8.43 kDa, comprising the binding module, a part of the linker, and about 30% glycosidic moiety. Its properties may thus be different from recombinant ones expressed in bacteria. CBD-fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugates were used to study the CBD-cellulose interaction. The presence of fluorescent peptides adsorbed on crystalline and amorphous cellulose fibers suggests that amorphous regions have a higher concentration of binding sites. The adsorption is reversible, but desorption is a very slow process.     

Conjugate points and Maslov index in locally symmetric semi-Riemannian manifolds

We study the singularities of the exponential map in semi Riemannian locally symmetric manifolds. Conjugate points along geodesics depend only on real negative eigenvalues of the curvature tensor, and their contribution to the Maslov index of the geodesic is computed explicitly. We prove that degeneracy of conjugate points, which is a phenomenon that can only occur in semi-Riemannian geometry, is caused in the locally symmetric case by the lack of diagonalizability of the curvature tensor. The case of Lie groups endowed with a bi-invariant metric is studied in some detail, and conditions are given for the lack of local injectivity of the exponential map around its singularities.     

On the asymptotic stability ofθ-methods for delay differential equations

Stability regions of -methods for the linear delay differential test equations

DAC-FECS Affairs

DAC-FECS Affairs

The Division of Analytical Chemistry     

Attenuated Total Reflection-Fourier transform infrared analysis of the fermentation process of pineapple

A direct and reagent free procedure has been developed to monitor the fermentation process of pine apple nectar using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-transform mid-infrared spectrometry (FT-IR) and multivariate analysis. A classical 4² design for standards was employed for calibration using the information in the spectral range from 907 to 1531 cm⁻¹ of the first order derivative spectra after mean centering of infrared data. The root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 0.040, 0.021, 0.063 and 0.074% w/w were obtained for glucose, fructose, saccharose and ethanol, respectively, and a mean relative validation error of 2.9, 2.1, 2.6 and 3.6% was achieved for glucose, fructose, saccharose and ethanol. Results obtained by the proposed procedure for the alcohol content at different fermentation levels were statistically comparable with those obtained by a reference spectrometric method. So, FT-IR spectrometry provides a fast alternative to long and tedious classical procedures to ethanol determination and sugar enzymatic analysis.     

Ferromagnetic coupling through spin polarization in the hexanuclear [MnII(3)CuII(3)] complex

A novel Cu(II)-Mn(II) hexanuclear complex of formula [[MnCuL](3)(tma)](ClO(4))(3).8H(2)O [H(2)L = macrocyclic Robson proligand; H(3)tma = trimesic acid] has been obtained by connecting three heterobinuclear [Cu(II)Mn(II)L](2+) cationic species through the trimesate anion. The complex exhibits a C(3) rotational symmetry, imposed by the geometry of the bridging ligand. The interaction within each Mn(II)-Cu(II) pair is antiferromagnetic (J = -16.7 cm(-1)). A weak ferromagnetic coupling among the three S = 2 resulting spins through the tricarboxylato bridge leads to a S = 6 ground spin state, for which the spin polarization mechanism is responsible.