Information content of data and variables and types of weighting in least-squares regression methods

Algorithms are given for evaluating the relative amount of useful information related to a particular parameter which is carried by individual data points and intervals of the variables. The algorithms provide an efficient means of using the information contained in a set of data. Applications to the optimization of weighting in regression methods are described. Several informational and combined informational-statistical types of weighting are studied as a means of improving the accuracy and precision of the parameters obtained by non-linear regression.     

Thermal behaviour and slow molecular mobility in two isomers of biphenylmethanol

This research was aimed to investigate the role of clay on the combustion and kinetic behavior of crude oils in limestone matrix. For this purpose, simultaneous TG (thermogravimetry) and DTA (differential thermal analysis) experiments were performed at three different heating rates as 10–15 and 20°C min^–1, respectively. A uniform trend of decreasing activation energies was observed with the addition of clay. It was concluded that clays surface area affects the values of Arrhenius constant, while it is the catalytic properties of clay, which lower the activation energies of all the reactions, involved in the combustion process.     

Diffusion in ethylene–propylene rubber

A study of sorption in a copolymer of ethylene and propylene is presented. Long-time sorption and desorption measurements provided the actual diffusion coefficient in the limit of zero concentration gradient. An analysis of the diffusion–sorption data reinforced the Frisch hypothesis about diffusion in a polymer matrix. The better solvent deforms the microstructure, allowing a more marked dependence of the diffusivity upon concentration.     

Characterization of anthocyanin extracts from maize kernels

The aim of the present work is to characterize the pigments present in the kernel of four native maize varieties related to the races Arrocillo, Cónico, Peruano, and Purepecha to determine their possible use as natural dyes. Total anthocyanin content is determined by a conventional spectrophotometric method, and anthocyanin analysis is done by high-performance liquid chromatography. The stability of the pigment at pH is also evaluated. The four maize samples contained anthocyanin in both the pericarp and aleurone layer. Total anthocyanin content among samples ranged from 54 mg/100 g of sample to 115 mg/100 g of sample. Anthocyanin profiles are almost the same among the four samples. Differences are observed only in the relative percentage of each anthocyanin. The anthocyanins identified are cyanidin-3-glucoside, pelargonidin- 3-glucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-(6" malonylglucoside), and cyanidin-3-(3",6"-dimalonylglucoside). Anthocyanin extracts showed similar behavior in solutions with different pH. From pH 1-6 lambdamax values are maintained almost constant; however, above this pH value, a marked increase is observed in the bathochromic shifts, but the bluish color did not continue to change above pH 8.     

Preparation of high loading PolyHIPE monoliths as scavengers for organic chemistry

A novel microcellular polyHIPE monolith of high functional group capacity has been prepared by a two-step process including the synthesis of the scaffold by polymerization of a highly concentrated emulsion and then the in situ surface polymerization of methacrylate monomers. Application of the resulting functionalized monolith is demonstrated in a scavenging reaction of poly(glycidyl methacrylate)-grafted polyHIPE with 1-hexylamine. The open-cellular structure of the core combined with the good accessibility of the grafted functional polymer chains allows total scavenging of the amine in a relatively short period.     

Paper-substrate room-temperature phosphorescence of phenothiazine derivatives enhanced by thallium(I) nitrate and surface-active agents

The effects of anionic, non-ionic, and cationic surfactants and thallium(I) nitrate on the paper-substrate room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) of eleven phenothiazine derivatives are described. Enhancement factors within the range 1.5–10 are observed after addition of sodium dodecylsulfate, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride and thallium(I) nitrate. The influence of surfactant on phosphor characteristics as well as effects of moisture are discussed. Limits of detection were in the range 0.2–2 ng. Results are also reported for p-aminobenzoic acid, carbazole and o-terphenyl.     

Optimizing constrained subtrees of trees

Given a treeG = (V, E) and a weight function defined on subsets of its nodes, we consider two associated problems. The first, called the rooted subtree problem, is to find a maximum weight subtree, with a specified root, from a given set of subtrees.The second problem, called the subtree packing problem, is to find a maximum weight packing of node disjoint subtrees chosen from a given set of subtrees, where the value of each subtree may depend on its root.We show that the complexity status of both problems is related, and that the subtree packing problem is polynomial if and only if each rooted subtree problem is polynomial. In addition we show that the convex hulls of the feasible solutions to both problems are related: the convex hull of solutions to the packing problem is given by pasting together the convex hulls of the rooted subtree problems.We examine in detail the case where the set of feasible subtrees rooted at nodei consists of all subtrees with at mostk nodes. For this case we derive valid inequalities, and specify the convex hull whenk 4.Research supported in part by Nato Collaborative Research Grant CRG 900281, Science Program SC1-CT91-620 of the EEC, and contract No 26 of the programme Pôle d'attraction interuniversitaire of the Belgian government.     

The algebra of differential operators on the circle and W KP (q)

Radul has recently introduced a map from the Lie algebra of differential operators on the circle of W _n . In this Letter, we extend this map to W _KP ^(q) , a recently introduced one-parameter deformation of W_KP - the second Hamiltonian structure of the KP hierarchy. We use this to give a short proof that W is the algebra of additional symmetries of the KP equation.     

A one-parameter family of hamiltonian structures for the KP hierarchy and a continuous deformation of the nonlinear WKP algebra

The KP hierarchy is hamiltonian relative to a one-parameter family of Poisson structures obtained from a generalized Adler map in the space of formal pseudodifferential symbols with noninteger powers. The resulting W-algebra is a one-parameter deformation of W_KP admitting a central extension for generic values of the parameter, reducing naturally to W _n for special values of the parameter, and contracting to the centrally extended W₁₊, W and further truncations. In the classical limit, all algebras in the one-parameter family are equivalent and isomorphic tow _KP. The reduction induced by setting the spin-one field to zero yields a one-parameter deformation of which contracts to a new nonlinear algebra of the W-type.Address after October 1993: Queen Mary and Westfield College, UK     

Electrospray/mass spectrometric identification and analysis of 4-hydroxy-2-alkylquinolines (HAQs) produced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a large array of 4-hydroxy-2-alkylquinolines (HAQs). These compounds were analyzed by LC/MS, using positive electrospray ionization, in the culture supernatant of strain PA14. Fifty-six HAQs and related compounds were detected and their [M + H](+) ions were further analyzed by collision induced dissociation (CID). These HAQs were grouped into five different series based on the presence of an hydrogen or hydroxyl group at the 3 position, an N-oxide group in place of the quinoline nitrogen, and an unsaturation on their alkyl side chain. Two new analogs of 3,4-dihydroxy-2 heptylquinoline, the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS), were found with an alkyl chain longer by one and two methylene groups. Moreover, two additional series of compounds were identified in which a saturated or unsaturated alkyl side chain is located at the 3 position along with an hydroxyl group at the 3 position and a ketone at the 2 position. No HAQ N-oxides, nor any compounds from the latter two series, were detected in a pqsL mutant derivative of PA14, indicating that this gene is involved in the biosynthesis of these compounds. This work demonstrates the large repertoire of HAQ and HAQ-related compounds produced by P. aeruginosa, and provides insight into N-oxides biosynthesis and confirm the hypothesis that N-oxides are the precursors of compounds from Series 6 and 7.