Measurements of total and positronium-formation cross sections for the scattering of positrons by alkali atoms

We present a review of our recent measurements of total cross sections (Q _T's) for the scattering of positrons by Na, K, and Rb, and positronium-formation cross sections (Q _Ps's) for Na and K. For our total cross section measurements, a beam transmission technique has been used. For ourQ _Ps measurements, our approach involves setting upper and lower limits onQ _Ps using a combination of (1) measuring the transmission of the positron beam with the angular discrimination of the apparatus made as poor as possible, and (2) measuring the 511 keV annihilation gamma rays in coincidence produced by the decay of para-Ps formed in the scattering cell. Comparison with theoretical calculations shows that our measuredQ _T's andQ _Ps's for Na and K agree reasonably well with a close coupling approximation (CCA) calculation which takes into account the formation of Ps in then=1 andn=2 states. In the 3–10 eV energy range, this calculation predicts a peak in theQ _T's andQ _Ps's for K which also appears in our measurements. The absence of such a peak in our measuredQ _T's andQ _Ps's (preliminary) for Na in this energy range is also consistent with the same theory. Comparisons with five-state CCA calculations ofQ _T which do not take Ps-formation into account also show good agreement with our positron-Na, K, and RbQ _T measurements for energies above 20 eV, but show dramatic departures from our measurements below 10 eV for K and Rb.     

Crystallization of Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C N-(1-D-carboxyethyl)-L-norvaline dehydrogenase and its complex with NAD+

The novel NAD+-linked opine dehydrogenase from a soil isolate Arthrobacter sp. strain 1C belongs to an enzyme superfamily whose members exhibit quite diverse substrate specificites. Crystals of this opine dehydrogenase, obtained in the presence or absence of co-factor and substrates, have been shown to diffract to beyond 1.8 ? resolution. X-ray precession photographs have established that the crystals belong to space group P21212, with cell parameters a = 104.9, b = 80.0, c = 45.5 ? and a single subunit in the asymmetric unit. The elucidation of the three-dimensional structure of this enzyme will provide a structural framework for this novel class of dehydrogenases to enable a comparison to be made with other enzyme families and also as the basis for mutagenesis experiments directed towards the production of natural and synthetic opine-type compounds containing two chiral centres.     

Solubility of benzil in binary alkane + dibutyl ether solvent mixtures. Comparison of predictive expressions derived from the nearly ideal binary solvent model

Experimental solubilities are reported for benzil dissolved in six binary mixtures containing dibutyl ether with hexane, heptane, octane, cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, and 2,2,4-trimethylpentane at 25°C. Results of these measurements are compared to the predictions of equations developed previously for solubility in systems of nonspecific interactions. The most successful equation in terms of goodness of fit involved a volume fraction average of the excess Gibbs energies relative to the Flory-Huggins model, and predicted the experimental solubilities in the six systems studied to within an overall average absolute deviation of 3.4% and with a maximum deviation of 6.0%.     

A check for consistency between positron-atomic hydrogen total,positronium formation,and ionization cross section measurements

We have recently measured total cross sections for 5 to 302 eV positrons scattered by atomic hydrogen using a beam transmission technique. A check for consistency is made between these measurements and prior measurements of positronium formation and ionization cross sections by making use of available theoretical calculations of elastic and excitation cross sections for positron-atomic hydrogen scattering.     

Thermochemical investigations of hydrogen-bonded solutions. Part 11. Expressions for predicting anthracene solubilities in alcohol+alkoxyalcohol mixtures based on mobile order theory

Experimental solubilities are reported for anthracene dissolved in eight binary mixtures containing 2-ethoxyethanol with 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-pentanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol and 1-octanol, and also in binary 1-pentanol+2-methoxyethanol and 2-methyl-1-propanol+2-propoxyethanol solvent systems at 25°C. Results of these measurements, combined with previously reported anthracene solubility data in 22 different alcohol +2-alkoxyethanol (2-methoxyethanol, 2-propoxyethanol and 2-butoxyethanol) solvent mixtures, are used to test the limitations and applications of expressions derived from Mobile Order theory. The first predictive expression assumes only formation of homogeneous self-associated hydrogen-bonded species, whereas the second equation includes additional terms to account for heterogeneous complex formation between the dissolved alcohol and 2-alkoxyethanol solvent molecules. Both equations predict the observed anthracene solubilities to within an average absolute deviation of about 3%.     

Solubility of anthracene in binary alcohol + 1-pentanol solvent mixtures at 25°C: Comparison of expressions derived from Mobile Order theory and the Kretschmer-Wiebe association model

A relatively simple expression is developed for predicting the solubility of an inert crystalline solute in binary alcohol + alcohol solvent mixtures based upon the Kretschmer-Wiebe association model. The predictive accuracy of the newlyderived expression is compared to equation(s) derived previously from Mobile Order theory using experimental anthracene solubilities in seven binary alcohol + 1-pentanol solvent mixtures at 25°C, which were measured as part of the present investigation. Computations show that both models accurately describe the solubility behavior of anthracene in the binary solvent systems studied. Average absolute deviations between observed and predicted values were 0.9% and 1.4% for the Kretschmer-Wiebe and Mobile Order predictive equations, respectively.