A note on smoothed estimating functions

The kernel estimate of regression function in likelihood based models has been studied in Staniswalis (1989,J. Amer. Statist. Assoc.,84, 276–283). The notion of optimal estimation for the nonparametric kernel estimation of semimartingale intensity (t) is proposed. The goal is to arrive at a nonparametric estimate of ₀=(t ₀) for a fixed pointt ₀ [0, 1]. We consider the estimator that is a solution of the smoothed optimal estimating equation is the optimal estimating function as in Thavaneswaran and Thompson (1986,J. Appl. Probab.,23, 409–417).     

AnL 1 smoothing spline algorithm with cross validation

We propose an algorithm for the computation ofL ₁ (LAD) smoothing splines in the spacesW _M (D), with . We assume one is given data of the formy _i =(f(t _i ) + _i , i=1,...,N with {itt_i} _i=1 ^{N D} , the _i are errors withE( _i )=0, andf is assumed to be inW _M . The LAD smoothing spline, for fixed smoothing parameter0, is defined as the solution,s , of the optimization problem (1/N) _i=1 ^N ¦y _i –g(t _i ¦+J _M (g), whereJ _M (g) is the seminorm consisting of the sum of the squaredL ₂ norms of theMth partial derivatives ofg. Such an LAD smoothing spline,s , would be expected to give robust smoothed estimates off in situations where the _i are from a distribution with heavy tails. The solution to such a problem is a thin plate spline of known form. An algorithm for computings is given which is based on considering a sequence of quadratic programming problems whose structure is guided by the optimality conditions for the above convex minimization problem, and which are solved readily, if a good initial point is available. The data driven selection of the smoothing parameter is achieved by minimizing aCV() score of the form .The combined LAD-CV smoothing spline algorithm is a continuation scheme in 0 taken on the above SQPs parametrized in, with the optimal smoothing parameter taken to be that value of at which theCV() score first begins to increase. The feasibility of constructing the LAD-CV smoothing spline is illustrated by an application to a problem in environment data interpretation.     

New Monte Carlo method for the self-avoiding walk

We introduce a new Monte Carlo algorithm for the self-avoiding walk (SAW), and show that it is particularly efficient in the critical region (long chains). We also introduce new and more efficient statistical techniques. We employ these methods to extract numerical estimates for the critical parameters of the SAW on the square lattice. We find=2.63820 ± 0.00004 ± 0.00030=1.352 ± 0.006 ± 0.025v=0.7590 ± 0.0062 ± 0.0042 where the first error bar represents systematic error due to corrections to scaling (subjective 95% confidence limits) and the second bar represents statistical error (classical 95% confidence limits). These results are based on SAWs of average length 166, using 340 hours CPU time on a CDC Cyber 170–730. We compare our results to previous work and indicate some directions for future research.     

High-performance liquid chromatography with continuous gradient elution in screening for unknown metabolites of butoprozine directly in dog bile

This paper describes the screening for metabolites of butoprozine, a new anti-anginal drug, in dog bile by means of reverse-phase HPLC. Although it does involve a simple clean-up step to remove a substantial amount of endogenous bile compounds, this screening method nevertheless avoids extraction of metabolites and thus allows all metabolites to be introduced into the chromatographic system. A single run of 100 minutes from 100% water to 100% methanol in a linear gradient effects adequate separation of the great majority of metabolites without interference from remaining endogenous compounds. Two methods of differentiating between metabolite peaks and endogenous peaks have been worked out. The first one makes use of ¹⁴C-labeled butoprozine by measuring the amount of radioactivity in the column effluent while simultaneously recording the UV absorbance. The second method compares continuous gradient chromatograms of bile recorded before and after butoprozine administration under very similar conditions. The latter method can be applied to both radioactive and non-radioactive materials.     

Numerical examination of performance of some exchange-correlation functionals for molecules containing heavy elements

The performance of 17 exchange-correlation functionals for molecules containing heavy elements are numerically examined through four-component relativistic density DFT calculations. The examined functionals show the similar accuracy as they do for the molecules containing light elements only except for bond lengths. LDA and OP86 produce good results for bond lengths and frequencies but bad bond energies. Different functionals do not show much different performance for bond energies except LDA. BP86 and GP86 produce results with average accuracy while LYP does not perform well. Although encouraging results are obtained with functional B97GGA-1, other heavily parameterized and meta-GGA functionals do not produce impressive results.     

Nondifferential optimization via adaptive smoothing

The problem of minimizing a nondifferential functionx f(x) (subject, possibly, to nondifferential constraints) is considered. Conventional algorithms are employed for minimizing a differential approximationf off (subject to differentiable approximations ofg). The parameter is adaptively reduced in such a way as to ensure convergence to points satisfying necessary conditions of optimality for the original problem.This research was supported by the UK Science and Engineering Research Council, the National Science Foundation under Grant No. ECS-8121149, and the Joint Services Electronics Program, Contract No. F49620-79-C-0178.     

Optimization of upper semidifferentiable functions

In this paper, we present an implementable algorithm to minimize a nonconvex, nondifferentiable function in ^m . The method generalizes Wolfe's algorithm for convex functions and Mifflin's algorithm for semismooth functions to a broader class of functions, so-called upper semidifferentiable. With this objective, we define a new enlargement of Clarke's generalized gradient that recovers, in special cases, the enlargement proposed by Goldstein. We analyze the convergence of the method and discuss some numerical experiments.The author would like to thank J. B. Hiriart-Urruty (Toulouse) for having provided him with Definition 2.1 and the referees for their constructive remarks about a first version of the paper.     

Multifold curdlan gel formation by dialysis into aqueous solutions of metal salts

We have found that the dialysis of curdlan dissolved in alkaline solution into aqueous solutions of metal salts yielded multifold gel structures. Aqueous sodium chloride and potassium chloride as well as pure water induced isotropic gels. Aqueous calcium salts induced liquid crystalline gel with refractive index gradient/amorphous gel alternative structure. Aqueous salts of trivalent aluminum and ferric cations induced a rigid liquid crystalline gel, which shrank above a threshold concentration of each salt. On the other hand, Liesegang ring-like pattern was observed with aqueous solutions of mixed salts of calcium chloride and magnesium chloride. The patterns have been classified to discuss the mechanism of forming the variety of structures.     

A quantitative method for dual‐pass electrostatic force microscopy phase measurements

Electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) has become a powerful tool for investigating charges on surfaces. The use of phase measurement in EFM is a direct and fast way to detect electrostatic force gradients, but only qualitatively. With the dual‐pass scheme, the phase signal at lifted height is often assumed to exclude any influences from the topography, but it does not. We report the collection of both topography and phase data by EFM on charged, micron‐sized metal wires. In order to quantify the electrostatic force, a cone model and finite element analysis are provided to integrate the force gradient from the phase signal. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

新型无泵阀毛细管等速电泳仪的研制——Ⅰ.积木式分离管路结构及电位梯度检测器

本文介绍本实验室研制的新型无泵阀毛细管等速电泳仪的积木式分离管路结构及电位梯度检测器,该管路结构及检测器构造均较现有的仪器简单、合理,拆卸和组接方便,造价低廉,用其构成的无泵阀毛细管等速电泳仪分离分析阴、阳离子样品,结果表明该仪器的检测灵敏度及重现性等均良好。