ViscosityB-coefficients,structural entropies and heat capacities,and the effects of ions on the structure of water

The water-structural contributions to the entropies and heat capacities of hydration of over 120 ions and the viscosity B-coefficients of nearly 80 aqueous ions are tabulated and correlated. B-coefficients for many more ions are predicted from this relationship and from their dependence on ionic size and charge. The structural entropies determine a unique scale of water structure making and breaking by the ions.     

Dynamic complexity of optimal paths and discount factors for strongly concave problems

We study the relationship between the dynamical complexity of optimal paths and the discount factor in general infinite-horizon discrete-time concave problems. Given a dynamic systemx _t+1=h(x _t ), defined on the state space, we find two discount factors 0 < ^{* **} < 1 having the following properties. For any fixed discount factor 0 < < ^*, the dynamic system is the solution to some concave problem. For any discount factor ^** < < 1, the dynamic system is not the solution to any strongly concave problem. We prove that the upper bound ^** is a decreasing function of the topological entropy of the dynamic system. Different upper bounds are also discussed.This research was partially supported by MURST, National Group on Nonlinear dynamics in Economics and Social Sciences. The author would like to thank two anonymous referees for helpful comments and suggestions.     

Moment closure hierarchies for kinetic theories

This paper presents a systematicnonperturbative derivation of a hierarchy of closed systems of moment equations corresponding to any classical kinetic theory. The first member of the hierarchy is the Euler system, which is based on Maxwellian velocity distributions, while the second member is based on nonisotropic Gaussian velocity distributions. The closure proceeds in two steps. The first ensures that every member of the hierarchy is hyperbolic, has an entropy, and formally recovers the Euler limit. The second involves modifying the collisional terms so that members of the hierarchy beyound the second also recover the correct Navier-Stokes behavior. This is achieved through the introduction of a generalization of the BGK collision operator. The simplest such system in three spatial dimensions is a 14-moment closure, which also recovers the behavior of the Grad 13-moment system when the velocity distributions lie near local Maxwellians. The closure procedure can be applied to a general class of kinetic theories.     

Positivity of entropy production in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics

We analyze different mechanisms of entropy production in statistical mechanics, and propose formulas for the entropy production ratee() in a state . When is steady state describing the long term behavior of a system we show thate()0, and sometimes we can provee()>0.     

Convergence of distorted Brownian motions and singular Hamiltonians

We prove a convergence theorem for sequences of Diffusion Processes corresponding to Dirichlet Forms of the kind .We obtain convergence in total variation norm of the corresponding probability measures on the path space C(₊;^d) under hypotheses which, for example, are satisfied in the case of H _loc ¹ ( ^d )-convergence of the 's, but we can allow more singular situations as regards the approximating sequences. We use then these results to give a criterion of convergence for generalized Schrödinger operators in which the potential function should not necessarily exists as a measurable function. We obtain convergence not only in strong resolvent sense, but we also obtain convergence in the uniform operator topology up to sets of arbitrarily small Lebesgue measure. Applications to the problem of the approximation of ordinary Schrödinger operators by generalized ones corresponding to zero-range interactions are given.     

Determination of thermodynamic functions of sorption for cyclohexyl-, piperidyl-, morpholyl-, and thiomorpholyl-n-alkanes by capillary gas-liquid chromatography

The values of partial molar free energy (G), enthalpy (H), and entropy (S) of sorption in the homologous series ofN-alkylpiperidines,N-alkylmorpholines,N-alkyl thiomorpholines, and alkylcyclohexanes were determined. It was found that the free energy of sorption is determined to a greater extent by the enthalpy term than by the entropy one. The free energy of sorption of the first homolog decreases when then-alkyl chain is attached directly to the carbon atom of the cycle and increases in the case ofN-alkylsubstituted heterocycles. The influence of the heteroatom nature on intermolecular interactions of homologs with the nonpolar stationary phase was quantitatively estimated on the basis of thermodynamic data.Dead time necessary for calculation of the retention factor was determined by the retention of methane injected into the column simultaneously with the sample.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 2030–2032, August, 1996.     

Thermodynamics of mixtures of hexane and heptane isomers with normal and branched hexadecane

Molar excess mixing enthalpies h ^E , Gibbs free energies g ^E and hence entropies s ^E have been obtained using calorimetry and the vapor sorption method at 25°C for hexane isomers+2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane, a highly branched C ₁₆ . The h ^E and g ^E are negative while Ts ^E are positive, but small. The values are explained by the Prigogine-Flory theory through negative free volume contributions to h ^E and Ts ^E , counterbalanced in the case of Ts ^E by the positive combinatiorial Ts ^E for mixing molecules of different size. No contribution is seen from the interaction between methyl and methylene groups. The excess quantities are also obtained for hexane and heptane isomers mixed with n-hexadecane. Values of h ^E and Ts ^E are now strongly positive, while those of g ^E are only slightly less negative. The interpretation requires two recently advanced contributions in addition to those of the Prigogine-Flory theory: 1) a decrease of order when correlations of orientations between n-C ₁₆ molecules in the pure liquid are replaced in the solution by weaker correlations whose strengths depend on the shapes of the lower alkane isomers. For lower alkane isomers of the same shape, but highly sterically hindered, h ^E and Ts ^E are small, manifesting, 2) a negative contribution, ascribed to a rotational ordering of n-C ₁₆ segments on the sterically-hindered molecule. Enthalpy-entropy compensation is observed for these new contributions, arising from their rapid fall-off with increase of temperature.     

Reversible dynamics and the macroscopic rate law for a solvable Kolmogorov system: The three bakers' reaction

We investigate a piecewise linear (area-preserving) mapT describing two coupled baker transformations on two squares, with coupling parameter 0c1. The resulting dynamical system is Kolmogorov for anyc0. For rational values ofc, we construct a generating partition on whichT induces a Markov chain. This Markov structure is used to discuss the decay of correlation functions: exponential decay is found for a class of functions related to the partition. Explicit results are given forc=2^–n. The macroscopic analog of our model is a leaking process between two (badly) stirred containers: according to the Markov analysis, the corresponding progress variable decays exponentially, but the rate coefficients characterizing this decay are not those determined from the one-way flux across the cell boundary. The validity of the macroscopic rate law is discussed.     

An equilibrium and calorimetric investigation of the hydrolysis of L-tryptophan to (indole + pyruvate + ammonia)

Apparent equilibrium constants and calorimetric enthalpies of reaction have been measured for the reaction L-tryptophan(aq) + H₂O(l) = indole(aq) + pyruvate(aq) + ammonia(aq) which is catalyzed by L-tryptophanase. High-pressure liquid-chromatography and microcalorimetery were used to perform these measurements. The equilibrium measurements were performed as a function of pH, temperature, and ionic strength. The results have been interpreted with a chemical equilibrium model to obtain thermodynamic quantities for the reference reaction: L-tryptophan(aq) + H₂O(l) = indole(aq) + pyruvate^–(aq) + NH ₄ ⁺ (aq). At T=25°C and I_m=O the results for this reaction are: K^o=(1.05±0.13)×10^–4, G°=(22.71±0.33) kJ-mol^–1, H°=(62.0±2.3) kJ-mol^–1, and S°=(132±8) J-K^–1-mol^–1. These results have been used together with thermodynamic results from the literature to calculate standard Gibbs energies of formation, standard enthalpies of formation, standard molar entropies, standard molar heat capacities, and standard transformed formation properties for the substances participating in this reaction.Presented at the Symposium, 76^th CSC Congress, Sherbrooke, Quebec, May 30–June 3, 1993, honoring Professor Donald Patterson on the occasion of his 65^th birthday.     

ELASTIC BEHAVIOR OF PROTEIN-LIKE SINGLE CHAIN

The conformational properties and elastic behaviors of protein-like single chains in the process of tensile elongation were investigated by means of Monte Carlo method. The sequences of protein-like single chains contain two types of residues: hydrophobic (H) and hydrophilic (P). The average conformations and thermodynamics statistical properties of protein-like single chains with various elongation ratio λ were calculated. It was found that the mean-square end-to-end distance r increases with elongation ratio,λ. The tensor eigenvalues ratio of : decreases with elongation ratio λ for short (HP)x protein-like polymers, however, the ratio of : increases with elongation ratioλ,especially for long (H)x sequence. Average energy per bond increases with elongation ratioλ, especially for(H)x protein-like single chains. Helmholtz free energy per bond also increases with elongation ratioλ. Elastic force (f), energy contribution to force (fU) and entropy contribution to force (fs) for different protein-like single chains were also calculated.These investigations may provide some insights into elastic behaviors of proteins.