Molecular dynamics integration meets standard theory of molecular vibrations

An iterative SISM (split integration symplectic method) for molecular dynamics (MD) integration is described. This work explores an alternative for the internal coordinate system prediction in the SISM introduced by JaneZic et al. (J. Chem. Phys. 2005, 122, 174101). The SISM, which employs a standard theory of molecular vibrations, analytically resolves the internal high-frequency molecular vibrations. This is accomplished by introducing a translating and rotating internal coordinate system of a molecule and calculating normal modes of an isolated molecule only. The Eckart frame, which is usually used in the standard theory of molecular vibrations as an internal coordinate system of a molecule, is adopted to be used within the framework of the second order generalized leapfrog scheme. In the presented MD integrator the internal coordinate frame at the end of the integration step is predicted halfway through the integration step using a predictor-corrector type iterative approach thus ensuring the method's time reversibility. The iterative SISM, which is applicable to any system of molecules with one equilibrium configuration, was applied here to perform all-atom MD simulations of liquid CO2 and SO2. The simulation results indicate that for the same level of accuracy, this algorithm allows significantly longer integration time steps than the standard second-order leapfrog Verlet (LFV) method.     

Synthesis of (+)-goniothalesdiol and (+)-7-epi-goniothalesdiol

A total synthesis of (+)-goniothalesdiol, a 3,4-dihydroxy-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran isolated from Goniothalamus borneensis (Annonaceae), and its 7-epimer is reported using oxycarbonylation methodology for construction of polyhydroxylated substituted heterocycles. Diastereoselectivity of addition of organometallic reagents to 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-threose derivatives using theoretical calculations based on the semiempirical PM5 was studied.     

Relativisticp-branes without constraints and their relation to the wiggly extended objects

The invariant evolution parameter is often used in the formulation of a so-called unconstrained relativistic quantum theoryof a point particle. Such a theory is very elegant, and contains the usual Klein-Gordon or the Dirac particle as a special case. In the present paper we extend the unconstrained theory to describe a continuous set of point particles forming a string or, in general, a membrane of arbitrary dimension p.The action of this system is not invariant with respect to reparametrizations of the evolution parameter and therefore there is no constraints among the dynamical variables, and no need for ghosts in the quantized theory. Then we show that such an unconstrained membrane is equivalent to a wiggly membranewhich has variable tension on its (p+1)-dimensional worldsheet. The equations of motion admit the usual well-known Dirac-Nambu-Goto membranes as particular solutions.On leave from J. Stefan Institute, University of Ljubljana, 61111 Ljubljana, Slovenia.     

Radiation-enhanced diffusion and fission gas release from recrystallised grains in high burn-up \hbox{UO}_{2} nuclear fuel

The effective diffusion coefficient that gives a steady-state xenon concentration of 0.2-0.3wt% in the recrystallised grains of high burn-up UO 2 fuel is calculated to lie in the range 10 m 24 to 10 m 22 m 2 s m 1 . These values are one to three orders of magnitude lower than the value currently accepted for the radiation-enhanced diffusion coefficient. The time required to reach the steady-state concentration depends on the local fission rate, the grain size distribution and the precise magnitude of the radiation-enhanced diffusion coefficient, and can take from 2 to 10 years. Additional calculations reveal that substantially less than 10% of the fission gas inventory is released from the original UO 2 grains in the outer region of the fuel prior to recrystallisation. In contrast, with a diffusion coefficient of 10 m 22 m 2 s m 1 more than 80% of the fission gas is released from the recrystallised grains of the high burn-up structure in one year.     

Synthesis of waterborne acrylic/clay nanocomposites by controlled surface initiation from macroinitiator modified montmorillonite

The nitroxide mediated controlled surface initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA)/butyl acrylate (n-BA) was carried out with a macroinitiator modified montmorillonite. The macroinitiator was synthesized by the nitroxide mediated polymerization of vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride (VBTMACl), methylmethacrylate (MMA) and styrene (S) at 90 °C using BlocBuilder®. The macroinitiator was exchanged with the sodium cations of the montmorillonite, to yield surface modified reactive montmorillonite. The bulk polymerizations of BA/MMA from the clay surface produced controlled molecular weight polymers that were able to exfoliate the clay. This controlled polymer/clay nanocomposite was used as masterbatch and further dispersed in monomers and miniemulsified to perform miniemulsion polymerization of BA/MMA (90/10 wt.%) at 30 wt.% solids content at low emulsifier concentration. The adhesive properties of the nanocomposites prepared with the masterbatch were proved to be better than those prepared with an organically modified clay.     

Degradation study of selected organophosphorus insecticides in natural waters

The degradation of 15 organophosphorus insecticides was studied in drinking, ground, and surface waters under different laboratory-controlled and environmental conditions. Surface waters originated from rivers Savinja (near the city of Celje) and Kamniska Bistrica (at the spring), which both belong to the Danube river basin. Groundwater was collected from wells (70?m deep) in Ljubljana, which are the direct source of drinking water for the capital. These matrices were selected on the basis of their different chemical composition and microbial activity. Major factors influencing the degradation were determined, such as temperature, oxygen, sunlight, pH, and type of water. The degradation of atrazine, present in many water sources in Slovenija, was followed simultaneously as a reference under the same conditions. The degradation kinetics was followed by gas chromatography with mass-selective detection, which also allowed the identification of some degradation by-products, such as oxon analogues paraoxon, dyfoxon, malaoxon, phenyl-methyl sulfoxide, fenthion sulfone, phorate sulfoxide, and phorate sulfone. The results show that the half-lives of the selected organophosphorus insecticides varied from 4 to 192 days or more, depending on the water source and experimental conditions. As a result, kinetically constants and half-lives were calculated for every tested insecticide, and major degradation products were determined.     

Spectral characterisation of new organic fluorescent dyes with an alkoxysilane moiety and their utilisation for the labelling of layered silicates

New fluorescence dyes with an alkoxysilane moiety were synthesised by the condensation of 3-(triethoxysilyl)-1-propanamine (3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane) with 4,10-benzothioxanthene-3,1′-dicarboxylic acid anhydride (BTXA) and N,N-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1,8-dicarboxylic acid anhydride (DMANA), which was accompanied by the formation of an imidic bridge. The compounds N-(3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl)-thioxantheno[2,1,9-dej]isoquinoline-1,3-dione (BTX-S) and 4-(N′, N′-dimethyl)-N-(triethoxysilyl)propyl-1,8-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid imide (DMAN-S) were characterised by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in chloroform and ethanol. Both conjugates (BTX-S and DMAN-S) exhibited absorption and emission bands in the same region as the un-substituted BTXA and DMANA. An important Stokes shift was observed for DMAN-S in ethanol. A high fluorescence quantum yield was observed for BTX-S in both solvents and for DMAN-S in chloroform. In addition, the newly developed fluorescent silane dyes were covalently attached to the microscopic particles of layered silicates and on the surface of SiO₂ wafers as a proof of concept for fluorescence particle (surface) visualisation. The surface wafer modification was precisely characterised by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Successful covalent linkage onto the particles of layered silicates was proved by confocal laser scanning microscopy technique.